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THE
COMPLETE MANUAL
OP
CATHOLIC PIETY;
CONTAINING
A SELECTION OF FERVENT PRAYERS,
PIOUS REFLECTIONS, AND SOLID INSTRUCTIONS,
ADAPTED TO EVERY STATE OF LIFE.
TO WHICH IS ANNEXED A SUPPLEMENT, CONTAINING EXCEL-
LENT AND APPROVED DEVOTIONS, WITH THE
EPISTLES AND OO8PEL8 FOR ALL THE
6UNDAY8 AND FESTIVALS
OF THE YEAR.
BY THE REV. WILLIAM GAHAN, O.S.A.
DUBLIN:
PUBLISHED BY JAMES DUFFY,
25, ANGLESEA-STREET.
1844.
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60 - CHVNTILLY
DUBLIN :
PRINTED BY J. M. O’TOOLE,
33, ABBEY-STREET.
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CONTENTS.
Preface,
Table of Moveable leasts, . •
Feasts and Fasts throughout the Year,
Unlawful Marriages,
Plenary Indulgences, . . . .
Manner of Lay Baptism, . • . . . •
Ecclesiastical Calendar, . • . .
Morning Prayer, . • . . . .
Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, . • . ,
The Litany of the holy Name of Jesus • .
The Salva Repina,— in verse, ... . •
The Angelas Domini , . . . .
Short Ejaculations in the course of the Day,
Prayers for Night, .. ..
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin,
The Hymn, Te lucis ante terminum , — in English,
A Prayer before Sermon, Spiritual Reading, Ac.
A Prayer before Mass,
Prayers at Mass,
Preparation for Confession,
A Protestation before the Examination of Conscience
Prayers before the Examination of Conscience,
An Examination of Conscience, .. . .
Prayers before Confession, . .
A Prayer at receiving Absolution,
Prayers after Confession, . . . .
Instructions for Communion
Prayers before Communion, ..
Acts of Virtue before Communion . .
page
7
10
11
12
ib.
14
ib.
25
30
33
36
37
38
39
44
47
49
50
56
80
81
82
85
92
97
98
103
107
111
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CONTENTS,
page
A Prayer to obtain the effects of a Plenary Indulgence, . . 118
Prayers after Communion, . • . • . . 124
Acts of Virtue after Communion, . . . . . . 180
The Seven Penitential Psalms, • • . . . . 141
The Litany of Saints, .. .. .. 150
Motives to Perseverance in a Virtuous Life, . • . • 158
Devotions for every Day in the Week, . . . . 100
Pious Reflections for every Day in the Month; from the
French of the Rev. F. BOUHOURS, . . . . 171
Meditations on the Articles of the Creed— to be used as a
Devotion by Societies, Families, Ac. . . . . 210
Anthem of the Blessed Virgin, Salve Regina , . . . . 224
An Universal Prayer for all things necessary to Salvation . • 225
A Prayer for the Choice of a State of Life, . . 227
A Prayer for a Pregnant Woman . . . . ib.
Litany of Divine Providence, . • . . . . 229
Prayer of St. Bernard to the Blessed Virgin . . . . 232
Litany of St. Winefrid, .. •• .. 238
The Golden Litany, •• •• .. ,t 239
The Prayers of St. Bridget, .. .. 247
Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, . • . . 258
Litany of the Sacred Heart, •• •• .. 259
Reparation of Honour to the Sacred Heart, . • . . 262
Devotions for the Sick, .. .. .. 264
A Prayer upon Recovery from Sickness, . • . . 277
Preparation for Death, .. .. .. 278
A Prayer by St. Liguori, • • • • . . 291
A Prayer of St. Augustin on the Sufferings of Christ, . . 292
A Prayer of St. Jerome in time of Agony, . . 293
Prayers to be recited by the Assistants when the Dying Person
loses the use of Speech, •• .. .. 294
Recommendation of a Soul Departing . . •• 298
Litany for a Happy Death, • • . • . • 805
A Prayer for all that are buried in a Church or Church-yard, 309
Exequies, or Sacred Rites over the Tomb, (in Latin and
English) •• •• •• •• 310
Litany for the Dead, .. .. •• . • 316
A Prayer upon the day of Decease or Burial, . • . • 320
Vespers for Sundays, (in Latin and English,) . . • • 821
The Hymn, Lucie Creator Optime, (Latin and English,) . . 326
Litany of the Blessed Virgin, (in Latin,) . . . . 828
Method of Serving at Mass, •• •• •• 330
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CONTENTS,
5
SUPPLEMENT.
On the Mass, and the use of the Latin Liturgy,
page
.. 836
The Ordinary of the Holy Mass, . .
• •
.. 840
Explanatory Prayers at Mass, . .
..
.. 867
Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays and Principal Festivals
throughout the Year, .. ..
..
.. 388
Instructions and Devotions for Confirmation,
..
.. 482
The Psalter of Jesus, •• ••
• •
.. 492
The Rosary of the blessed Name of Jesus,
• r
.. 503
The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin,
..
.. 510
The Hymn, Te Deum , (in English,)
..
.. 521
The Thirty Days’ Prayer,
..
522
Hymns for Festivals, (in Latin and English,)
Advent, Alma Redemptor , . . . .
.. 527
Christmas, Adeste Fidelity
.. ib.
Passion and Palm-Sundays, Vexilla regin
.. 528
Good-Friday , Stabat mater, , .
.. 529
Easter, 0 Filii,
.. 532
Whit-Sun day, Veni Creator, . .
.. 534
Sequence to do., Veni Sanete ,
536
Corpus Christi, Pange lingua , • •
.. 538
At the Elevation, 0 Salutari* , • •
.. 540
A 2
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PREFACE
Of all the means we can employ for our advancement
in the great affair of our salvation, Prayer is certainly one
of the most powerful. Saint Augustin calls it the Key of
Heaven, that unlocks the treasures of God, and gives us
free access to the riches of his divine bounty. It was by
prayer that Elias, when he pleased, opened and shut the
sluices of heaven, and caused fire to descend from above
to consume his sacrifice. It was by prayer that Joshua
caused the sun to stop in the midst of its course. The
prayer of Moses contributed more to the signal victory
obtained by Joshua over the army of the Amalekites, than
all the weapons of Israel : for as long as his hands were
raised up to heaven, his prayers drew down a blessing on
the people of God : but no sooner did he let his hands fall,
(being unable to keep them in that painful posture,) and
had ceased from prayer, than the Amalekites began to
prevail.
But if Prayer be so powerful, it is no less necessary :
our poverty and indigence; our manifold wants, infirmities,
and miseries ; the various dangers to which we are con-
tinually exposed; the frequent temptations we have to
encounter; our absolute insufficiency of ourselves, and
inability to do the least good without the grace of God ;
are corroborating proofs of the indispensable necessity of
Prayer.
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PREFACE.
Though every good gift comes from the Father of Lights,
who knows our wants, and is always inclined to relieve us,
yet he requires that we have recourse in all our necessities,
corporal and spiritual, to the throne of his mercy, under
the assurance that whatever we ask with confidence, humi-
lity, piety, and perseverance, in the name of J esus, shall
be granted.
However, the idea of Prayer is not to be confined to
that of Petition, as frequently happens. Many Christians,
indeed, pray to God; but where are they to be found,
who, like David, are incessantly employed in singing the
mercies of the Lord, and have the remembrance of them
deeply engraven in their hearts P They call upon God, to
represent to him their wants, either temporal or spiritual;
they appear only in his presence with a hand lifted up to
receive, as if they imagined he was indebted to them, and
that be never gave them enough. They have a heart but
to wish, and a tongue but to ask. Their wants are eloquent
and pressing, their gratitude cold and silent; for how
seldom do they think of appearing before him to bless and
praise him, and to celebrate the wonders of his love for us!
Alas ! to recollect his benefits, to thank him for them, to
feel confused at the sight of their own ingratitude, to excite
themselves, from this motive, to confidence and love, to be
ready to do all, to suffer all, for a God who has shown
them so much goodness, is a practice which is known but
to a small number of fervent souls. 'We are all earnest in
asking ; but in general so deficient in thanksgiving, that,
like the Lepers in the Gospel, it is to be feared not above
one in ten gives due thanks to God for the blessings received.
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PREFACE. 9
Nevertheless, nothing would be more pleasing to God, nor
more proper to draw down upon us new graces.
To facilitate, therefore, the exercise of this important
duty, certain forms of vocal prayers have always been
recommended, particularly such as have been used by the
Saints, and drawn from the divine Psalms, which are so
full of sublime ideas, of tender sentiments of piety, of
fervent aspirations, of transports and raptures in God, that
all the subjects of Prayer which are suitable either to the
penitent way, the illuminative way, or the unitive way, are
to be met with therein.
The Manual now offered to the piety of Irish Catholics,
will be found, on a diligent perusal, to have no small claim
to this merit. The many editions it has gone through, the
high esteem it is held in by interior souls, the constant and
universal demand for it, is all we shall say in its praise.
To render it still more acceptable and more complete,
the present edition has been very considerably enlarged,
improved, and enriched with Instructions and Devotions
for Confirmation ; with an explanation of the Latin Liturgy,
and of the Ceremonies used in the sacrifice of the Mass,
and different pious methods of assisting thereat; with
particular Devotions for every day in the Week ; in short,
with a great variety of Sacred Hymns of praise and
thanksgiving, and of spiritual Exercises of Piety for several
occasions, taken from the most approved Books of Devotion
in the French and English Language.*
* See the Supplement attached to this Book.
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FEASTS AND FASTS
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
HOLY-DAYS ON WHICH THERE IS A STRICT OBLIGATION TO
HEAR MASS, AND REFRAIN FROM SERVJLR WORKS.
All Sundays in the Year.
Ascension of our Lord.
Corpus Christi.
January 1-^The Circumcision of our Lord.
January 6— The Epiphany.
March 17— The Feast of St. Patrick.
March 25— The Annunciation of the B. V. M.
June 29— St. Peter and St. Paul.
August 1&— Assumption of the B. Y. M.
November 1— Feast of All Saints.
December 25 — Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[The obligation is taken away on all other days, by decrees of Popes
Pius VI. and VIII.] ^
FASTING DAYS ON ONE MEAL.
All the Days in Lent, except Sundays.
The Eve of Whitsuntide.
The Quarter-tenses, or Ember-days, being the Wednes-
days, Fridays, and Saturdays, next after the first Sunday
°L1^?5 a“er ^^t-Sunday; after September 14th: and
after December 13th.
.The Eves of St. Peter and St. Paul; of the Assumption
JEJ1® 7- Mai7 J oi All Saints ; and of Christmas -day.
The Fridays and Saturdays in Advent.
DAY8 OF ABSTINENCE FROM FLESH MEAT.
All die Sundays in Lent, except when the use of meat is
allowed by the Archbishop or Bishop of the diocess.
All the Fridays throughout the Year.
N.B. — Eggs are forbidden on Fridays, when a fast falls
on them; and if a Fasting Day fall on a Sunday, the fast
is kept on the Saturday before. If Christmas-day fall on
a Friday, neither fast nor abstinence is observed.
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PLENARY INDULGENCES.
N.B. — The Catholic Church commands all her children
to be present at the great Eucharistic Sacrifice, which we
oall the Mass, and to rest from servile work, on Sundays
and' Holy-days. Secondly — To abstain from flesh on all
the days of fasting and abstinence, and on fasting days to
eat but one meal. Thirdly — To confess their sins at least
once a year Fourthly — To receive the blessed sacrament
at least once a year, and that at Easter, viz., between
Palm and Low Sundays.
%• The time appointed in the Archdiocess of Dublin,
for complying with the Easter Duty? begins an Ash- Wed-
nesday, and terminates on Ascension I)ay. They who,
without some reasonable cause, neglect this important
duty, are liable to be excommunicated whilst living, and
when they die, to be deprived of Christian burial, accord-
ing to the fourth Council of Lateran, can. 21.
Marriage cannot be contracted bv persons within the
fourth degree of kindred without a dispensation, and if
attempted is invalid. Spiritual kindred, contracted by
baptism or confirmation, is an impediment.
Clandestine marriage is that which is not performed by
the pastor of one of the party, with certificate, or by
another priest, with his license, and in the presence of
two or three witnesses.
Clandestine marriages are unlawful, and forbidden by
the church; and are null or invalid in all the diocesses
of Ireland, as the Decree of the Council of Trent, which
annuls clandestine marriages, has duly been received in
them all, 2nd December, 1827, and was in force thirty
days after, or 1st January, 1828.
The solemnizing of marriage is forbidden from the first
Sunday in Advent till after Twelfth-day ; and from the
beginning of Lent till Easter-Sunday. At all other times
it may be solemnized.
Plenary Indulgences are granted to the faithful of
this kingdom by complying with the usual conditions : —
On the feast of St. Patrick, or any day within the octave.
Item, on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, or any day
within the octave. Item, at the hour of death, to such
as devoutly invoke the sacred name of J esus, at least with
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PLENARY INDULGENCES.
13
the heart. The other Indulgences! which are granted to
the faithful of the Archdiocess of Dublin, on the feasts of
the Nativity of our Lord, the Circumcision, the Epiphany,
the Resurrection, the Ascension, Pentecost, Corpus
Christi, on the five principal festivals of the Blessed
Virgin, and the feast of All Saints, &c., are commonly
published from the altars.
Note . — By an Indulgence is meant a relaxation or remis-
sion of the temporal punishment due to sins already for-
fiven, both as to the guilt and eternal punishment. Some
ndulgences are called plenary ; because, when the full
effect of them is gained, they remit all the debt of tem-
poral punishment : others are called partial; for example,
an Indulgence of forty or an hundred days, or of three,
seven, ten, fifteen, or more years ; because the penitent
is only thereby released in part, or from such a proportion
of the debt of temporal punishment as was formerly en-
joined by the penitential canons, according to the enormity
of the crimes committed, and as would have been remitted
by God, had the penitent undergone, for such a space of
time, the severe canonical penances which were in use in
the Church until the twelfth century.
The direct and immediate effect, therefore, of an Indul-
gence is, to remit the debt of temporal punishment, and
not to pardon or remit sin, as it supposes sin already
forgiven. But the sinner’s repentance being seldom so
Ee deserves, on account of the injury he has committed
against the Divine Majesty, there usually remains some
debt of temporal punishment to be discharged, either in
this world or in the next. For though the mercy of God *
is moved by a true repentance, to pardon the guilt and
eternal punishment due in hell for mortal sin; yet his
justice Soften substitutes in its place, and reserves some
debt of temporal punishment, to wnich the repenting
sinner is liable on account of his past sins ; as appears
evidently from several remarkable instances recorded in
holy writ, particularly Adam, King David, Manasses,
the Israelites, &c.
It is to discharge and cancel this debt of temporal
punishment, that works of penance are enjoined in the
sacred tribunal of Confession; and that the Catholic
Church, like a compassionate and indulging mother, opens
B
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PLENARY INDULGENCES.
her spiritual treasures from time to time, to supply the
wants and make up the deficiency of her children. In
virtue of the power given to her by J esus Christ, and in
imitation of St. Paul, (2 Cor. x.) and several other re-
nowned doctors and pastors who flourished in the purest
ages of Christianity, she grants indulgences to such of the
faithful as are properly disposed, and apply with fervour
to those works of piety ana religion, chanty and penance,
that are required on their part, as conditions necessary to
gain the benefit of an indulgence.
THE MANNER OF LAY PERSONS BAPTIZING AN INFANT IN
DANGER OF DEATH.
Take common water, pour it on the head or face of
the child, and while you are pouring it, say the following
words : “ I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost Amen.”
THE ROMAN CALENDAR
FOR THE KINGDOM OF IRELAND :
CONTAINING
The Feasts and Fasts of the said Kingdom, the Irish
Saints, and Patrons of each Diocess; all on their proper
days.
EXPLANATIONS.
The Festivals of the Holy-Days are in small capital
LETTERS.
The Irish Saints are marked in Italic Letters .
The Founders of Religious Orders are marked thus, t
Note, — Ap. signifies Apostle, M. Martyr, B. Bishop,
Ab. Abbot, C. Confessor, V. Virgin, D. Diocess.
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CALENDAB
JANUARY, 30 DAYS.
1 Circumcision of our 16 S. Fursev r, Ab. S. Mar-
Lord. cellos, Pope and Mart.
2 Octave of S. Stephen. 17 S. Anthony, Ab.
In the Diocess of Lime- 18 Chair of S. Peter at
rick, S. Munchin , B. Rome. S. Prisca, V .M.
C. 19 S. Canute, King and M.
3 Octave of S. John, A pos- SS. Maurius, Martha,
tie and Evangelist. Audifaeis, and Abac-
4 Octave of Holy Inno- kum, Martyrs.
20 SS. Fabian and Sabas-
6 S.Telesphorus,Pope and tian, Martyrs.
Martyr. Vigil. 21 S. Agnes, Virg. & Mar.
6 Epiphany of our Lord, 22 SS. Vincent and Anas-
with an Octive. tatius, Martyrs.
7 8. Kenligema, Widow. 23 Desponsation, B. V. M.
S. Lucian, Martyr. S. Emerentiana, V. and
8 S. Albert , B. of Cashel. Martyr.
S. Appollinaris, B. C. 24 S. Timothy, Bp. and M.
9 S. Finally B. of Lindis- 25 Conversion of S. Paul
fame. S. Peter of Se- the Apostle.
baste, B. C. 26 S. Polycarp, Bp. and M.
10 S. William, B. and C. 27 S. John Chrysostom, Bp.
11 S. Hyginus, Pope and and Confessor.
Martyr. S. Theodosius 28 Commemoration of S.
the Cenobiareh, Ab. Agnes.
12 S. Arcadius, Martyr. 29 S. Francis de Sales, Bp.
13 Octave of the Epiphany. and Confessor.
14 S. Hilary, B.C. S. Felix, 30 S. Martina. V. and M.
Priest and Martyr. S. Amnichad , Conf.
16 S. Paul, the first Hermit, 31 fS. Peter Nolasco, Conf.
S. Maurus, Martyr. S. Aidan , Bp. of Ferns.
• Feast of the most holy Name of JESUS, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany.
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FEBRUARY AND MARCH,
FEBRUARY, 28 DAYS.
1 S. Bridget . Virgin, Pa-
troness of Ireland. S.
Ignatius, Bp. and Mar.
2 Purification of the B.
V. M.
3 S. Blase, Bp. and Mart.
4 S. Andrew Corsini, Bp.
and Confessor.
5 S. Agatha, Virgin and
Martyr.
6 S. Dorothy, V. and M.
In the Diocess of Ar-
dagh, S. Mely B. and C.
7 S. Romuald, Abbot. S.
Malon , Bishop.
8 S. John of Matha, Conf.
9 S. Apollonia, V. and M.
S. Cairecha , Virgin.
10 S. Scholastica, Virgin
and Martyr.
11 S. Raymund of Penna-
fort, Conf. S. Elchin ,
Bishop of Cluninfoda.
12 S. SeauliuSy Bishop of
Dublin. S. Benedict of
Anian, Abbot.
13 S. Modomnocy B. S. Ca-
therine of Ricci, V.
14 S. V alentine, Priest and
Martyr.
15 SS. Faustinas and Jovi-
ta. Martyrs.
16 S. Tanco} Bishop and M.
S. Onesimus, Martyr.
17 S. Fintany Abbot.
18 S. Simeon, Bp. and M.
19 S. Barbas, Bp. and Conf.
20 SS. Tyrannio, &c. Ms.
21 S. Severianus, Bishop
and Martyr.
22 The Chair of S. Peter at
Antioch.
23 S. Serenus, a Gardener,
Martyr.
24 S. Matthias, Apostle.
25 S. Terasius, Patriarch of
Constantinople, Conf.
26 S. Alexander, Patron of
Alexandria.
27 S. Leander, Bp. and Con.
28 SS. Martyrs of Alexan-
dria.
•In Leap-years February hath
29 days, and the Feast of St. Mat-
thias is kept on the 25th.
MARCH, 31 DAYS.
1 S. Moneniuty Bishop of
Cluainferta Brendam.
S. David, B. C.
2 SS. Martyrs under the
Lombards.
3 S. Cunegundis, Empress.
4 S. Cassimirus, Confes.
S. Lucius, Pope and M.
5 S. Kiarany Bp. and C.
SS. Adrian, &c. MM.
6 S. Fridoliny Abbot. S.
Chrodegang, B. and C.
7 S. Thomas of Aquino,
Confessor and Doctor.
SS. Pernetua and Feli-
citas, MM.
8 S. CatalduSy B. C. S.
Sennany B. S. John of
God, Confessor.
9 S. Frances, "Widow.
10 SS. Forty Martyrs of
Sebaste. S. Firsullu8y
Bishop.
11 S. Mnguiy Abbot.
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MARCH AND APRIL.
IT
Id S. Gregory the Great,
Pope, Conf. and Doctor.
IS S. Nicephoros, Patriarch
of Constantinople, C.
14 S. Maud, Empress.
15 SS. Abraham and Mary.
16 S. Julian, Martyr.
17 Patrick, Bishop and
Confessor and Patron
of Ireland.
18 S. Frkiian , Bishop and
Confessor.
19 S. Joseph, Conf. Spouse
of the B. V. M.
80 S. C uthbert, Bp. and C.
81 S. Benedict, Ad. Patron
of the Western Monks.
83 S. Basil of Ancyra,
Priest and Martyr.
33 S. Alphonsus Turibius,
Bishop and Confessor.
84 S» Car lain , Bishop of
Armagh. S. Ireneus,
Bishop and Confessor.
85 Annunciation of the
B. V. M.
86 S. Ledger, Bp. and C.
37 S. Rupert, Bp. and C.
88 SS. Priscus, MM.
39 SS. Jonas, &c. MM.
30 S. Fergus , Bp. of Drum-
3eth-glass. S. John
Clymacus, Abbot.
31 S. Benjamin, Martyr.
• The Feast of the Sere n Dolors
of the B. V. M. Friday after Pas-
sion Sunday.
APRIL, 30 BAYS.
1 S. Hugh, Bp. and Conf.
2 t S. Francis of Paula, C.
3 SS. Agape, &c. MM.
4 S. Is adore. Bp. and Con.
S. Tigernachy Bishop.
5 S. Vincent Ferrer, Conf.
6 S. Cele stine y Pope and
Confee. S. Cathubius ,
Abbot.
7 S. Celus, B. of Armagh.
8 S. Kensalud , Abbot of
Benchor. S. Dionisius,
Bishop and Confessor.
9 S. Mary of Egypt.
10 S. Bademus, Abbot
11 S. Leo the Great, Pope
Confessor and Doctor
12 S. Sabas, Martyr.
13 S. Hermenegild, Mart
14 SS. Tiburtius, V alerian,
and Maximus, MM.
15 S. Rundham , Bishop.
S. Peter Gonzales, C.
16 S. Tegalius , Bp. SS.
Martyrs of Saragossa-
17 S. Anicetus, P. and M.
S. Leochaaius r. Abbot.
18 S. Laserian, Bishop of
Leigblin. S. Apollonius
the Apologist, M.
19 S. Leo IX. Pope and C.
20 S. Agnes, Virg. and Ab.
21 S. Anselm, Bp. and C.
S. Berachus , Abbot
22 SS. Soterus and Cauis,
Popes and Martyrs.
23 S. George, Martyr, S.
Ibary Bishop.
24 S.FidelisofSimarengen,
Martyr.
25 S. Mark, Eyangelist.
26 SS. Cletus and Marcel-
linus, Popes and Mars.
27 S. AsicuSyD^. of Elphin.
SS. Anthimus, Bishop,
&c. MM.
B 2
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18 APRIL AND MAY.
28 S. Vitalis, Martyr. S.
Cronan , Abbot.
29 S. Peter, M. S. Ficano ,
Confessor.
30 S. Catherine of Sienna,
Virgin.
•Patronage of S. Joseph, 3rd
Sunday after Easter.
MAY, 31 DAYS.
1 SS. Philip and James,
Apostles. S. Ultany Ab.
2 Athanasius, Bp. and C.
3 The invention of the
Holy Cross. In the
Diocess of Kildare, S.
Conleath , Bp. and C.
4 S. Monica, Widow.
5 S. Pius V. Pope and C.
6 S. John before the Latin
Gate.
7 S. Stanislaus, Bp. and M.
8 Apparition of S. Michael
Arch. S. Indrathty M.
9 S. Gregory Nazianzen,
Bishop and Confessor.
10 S. Comgally Ab. S. An-
tonius Bp. and Conf.
SS. Gordian and Epi-
machus, MM.
11 S. Mammertus, Bishop
and Confessor.
12 SS. Nereus and Achil-
leus, Martyrs.
13 S. John the Silent, Bp.
and Confessor.
14 S. Boniface, Martyr. S.
Carthaghy Bishop of
Lismore.
15 S. Dympna , V. and M.
S. Gonebrardy Martyr.
16 S. Ubaine, B. C. and S.
John Nepomuoen, M.
In the Diocess of Ard-
fert and Clonfert, *S.
Brendan , Abbot.
17 S. Mawy C. S. Paschal
Baylon, Confessor.
18 S. Venantius, Martyr.
19 f S. Peter Celestine,
Pope and C. S. Pru-
dentiana, V.
20 S. Bemardin of Sienna, C.
21 S. Ubaldus, Bp. and C.
22 S. Ivo. Confessor.
23 S. Julia, Virg. and M.
24 S. Vincent of Lerins, C.
S. Mac-Cartin} Bishop
of Clogher.
25 S. Greg. VII. P. and C.
S. Urban, P. and M.
26 fS. Philip Neri, C. S.
Eleutherius, P. and M.
27 S. Mary Magdalen of
Pazzi, V. S. John, P.
and M.
28 S. Germanus, B. and C.
29 S. Maximinus, B. and C.
30 S. Felix, Pope and M.
S. Maguily Confessor.
31 S, Petronilla, Virg. fS.
Angela of Brescia, V .
JUNE, 30 DAYS.
1 S. Justin, Martyr.
2 SS. Marcellinns and
Peter, MM.
3 S. Comegeny Bishop of
Glendaloch. S. Ceci-
lius, Conf.
4 S. PetrocuSy Confessor.
SS. Breaca, &c. Virgs.
S. Francis Caracciolo,
Confessor.
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JUNE AND JULY,
19
5 S. Boniface, B. and M.
6 fS. Norbert, B. and C.
8. Coca, Virgin.
7 S. Colman , Bishop of
Dromore, Conf.
8 S. Syra, V. S. Brontus ,
Bishop, Cuil-ira. S.
Medard, Bp. and C.
9 S. Columba , Ab. SS.
Primus and Felican,
Martyrs.
10 S. Margaret, Queen of
Scotland, Widow.
11 S. Barnabas, Apostle.
S. MectaluSy Bishop,
12 S. John of Sahagun, C.
and SS. Basilides, Cy-
rus, &c. MM.
13 S. Anthony of Padua, C.
S. Macnisius, Ab.
14 S. Basil the Great, Bp.
and Conf.
15 SS. Vitus, Crescentia,
and Modestus, MM.
16 S. John Francis Regis,
Confessor.
17 SS. Nicander, <fec. MM.
18 SS. Marcus and Mar-
cellinus, MM.
19 fS. Juliana Falconieri,
Virgin. SS. Gervasius
and Protasius, MM.
20 S. Silverius, Pope and M.
S. Gobain , Virgin.
21 S. Aloysius Gonzaga, C.
22 S. Patdinus, Bp. and C.
23 S. Etheldreda,V.andM.
Vigil.
24 Nativity of S. John
Baptist, with an Oct.
25 f S. William, Ab.
26 SS. John and Paul,
Martyrs.
27 S. Ladislas, King and C.
28 S. Leo II. Pope and C.
Vigil. Fast.
29 SS. Peter and Paul,
Apostles, with an Oct.
30 Commemoration of S.
Paul, Ap.
JULY, 31 DAYS.
1 Octave of S. John Bap-
tist. S. Cunuan , Bp.
2 Visitation of the B. V.
Mary. SS. Processus
and Martinian, MM.
3 S. Rumold , Bp. and M.
S. Killen. Ad.
4 S. FinJbar , Ab. S. Ul-
ric, B. and C.
5 S. Modwena , Virgin. S.
Peter, B. and C.
6 Octave of SS. Peter and
Paul, Apostles.
7 S. Paulinus, Conf.
8 S. Kiliarij Bp. and M.
S. Elizabeth, Queen of
Portugal.
9 SS. Martyrs of Gorcum.
10 SS. Seven Brethren, and
Rufina and Secunda,
Martyrs.
11 S. Pius I. Pope and M.
S. Drostan , Ab.
12 f S. John Gualbert, Ab.
SS. Nabor and Felix,
Martyrs.
13 S. Anacletus, Pope and
Martyr.
14 S. Bonaventure, B. C.
and D. S. Idus, Bp.
15 S. Henry JI., Emperor of
Germany, Conf.
16 Commemoration of B.
V. M. of Mt. Carmel.
,y Google
20 JULY AND AUGUST.
17 S. Alexius, Confessor,
S. Turning Conf.
18 fS. Camillus de Lellis,
Conf. SS. Symphorosa,
&c. Martyrs,
19 fS. Vincent of Paulo, C.
20 fS. Jerom ASmiliani, C.
S. Margaret, V. M.
21 S. Praxedes, Virgin. S.
ArbogagiuSy Bishop.
22 S. Mary Magdalen. S.
Dabius, Conf.
23 S. ApolUnaris, B. and M.
S. Liborius, B. C.
24 S. Christina, V. and M.
S. Dec!any B. Vigil.
2 5 S. James, Apostle. S.
Christopher, Martyr.
26 S. Anne, Mother of the
B. V. M.
27 S. Pantaleon, Martyr.
S. Congal , Ab.
28 SS. Nazarius, Celsus,
and Victor, Martyrs.
S. Innocent, Pope & C.
29 S. Martha, V.SS. Felix,
Simplicius, <fcc. MM.
30 SS. Abdon and Sennen,
Martyrs.
31 f S. Ignatius of Loyala C.
AUGUST, 31 DAYS.
1 S. Peter's Chains. SS.
Maccabees, MM.
2 S. Stephen, Pope and M.
S. Chrocan.
3 Finding of S. Stephen's
Relics.
4 fS. Dominick, Conf.
S. LaimuSy Ab.
5 Dedication of the Church
of the B. V. M. of
Nives.
6 Transfiguration of our
Lord. SS. Xystus,
Pope, Felidssixnus, <fcc.
Martyrs.
7 f S. Cajetan, Confessor.
S. Donatus. Martyr.
8 SS. Cariacus, Largus,
and Smaragdus, MM.
9 S. Romanus, Martyr.
S. Nathy, Bp. and C.
S. FiSmid, Bp. and C.
Vigil.
10 S. Laurence, M. with an
Octave. S. Man , Bp.
11 SS. Tiberius and Stuan-
na, Martyrs.
12 fS. Clare, Virgin. S.
Muredach , Bp. and C.
13 SS. Hypolitus and Cas-
sianus, Martyrs.
14 S. Eusebius, Conf. S.
Fachanan , Ab. Vigil.
Fast.
15 Assumption of the B.
V. M. with an Oct.
16 S. Hyacinth, Conf.
1 7 Octave of S. Laurence.
18 S. Agapetus, Mart. S.
Degha , Bp. S. Helen,
Empress.
19 SS. Timothy, <fcc. MM.
20 S. Bernard, Abbot.
21 S. Jane Frances de
Chantal, "Widow.
22 Octave of the Assumpt.
23 S. Philip Beniti, Conf.
S. Eugenius , B. Vigil.
24 S. Bartholomew, Apost.
25 S. Lewis IX. King of
France, Confessor.
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21
AUGUST AND
26 8. Zephyrinus, Pope and
Martyr.
27 t S. Joseph Calasanc-
tioa, Coniessor.
28 fS. Augustine, B. C.
and D. S. Hermes. M.
29 Decollation of S. John
Baptist. S. Sabina, M.
30 S. Fiaker, Conf. S. Rose
of Lima, Virgin.
31 S. Raymond Nonnatus,
Conf. S. Aidan , Bp.
* 8- Joachim, on Sunday with-
in the Octave of the Assumption.
SEPTEMBER, 30 DAYS.
1 S. Giles, Abbot. SS.
Twelve Brothers, MM.
2 S.Stephen, King of Hun-
gary, Confessor
3 S. Macnisius, B. C. S.
Simeon Stilites.
4 S. Ultatty Bishop. SS.
Marcellos, <fec. MM.
6 S. Laurence Justinian,
B. C. S. AiiOy Abbot.
6 S. Begay V. S. Maccu -
Undue, B. S. Pambo,
Abbot.
7 S. Grimonhy V. M. S.
Ennauy B. S Cloud, C.
8 Nativity B.V. M. with
an Oct. S. Adrian, M.
9 S. Gorgonius, Martyr.
S. Ktarariy Abbot.
10 S. Nicholas of Tolentine,
Conf. S. Finian , B.
11 SS. Proteus and Hyacin-
thus, Martyrs.
12 S. AlbeuSy B. S. Eans-
wide, V. Abbess. S.
Sigmnuy Abbot.
SEPTEMBER.
13 S. Eulogiug, B. & C.
14 Exaltation of the Holy
Cross. S. CormaCy B.K.
15 Octave of Nat. B. V. M.
S. Nicodemus, M.
16 SS. Cornelius & Cyprian,
Bishops and Martyrs.
SS. Euphemia, Lucia,
and Geminiani, MM.
17 Impression of the Sacred
Stigmas of S. Francis.
18 S. Joseph of Cupertino,
Confessor.
19 SS. Januarius, Bishop,
and Companions, MM.
20 SS. Eustachius and Com-
panions, MM. Vigil.
21 S. Matthew, Apostle and
Evangelist.
22 S. Thomas of Villanova,
B. and C. S. Maurice
and Companions, MM.
23 S. Linus, P. and M. S.
Thecla, V. and M. S.
Eunan, B. C.
24 Feast of the B. V.M. of
theRedemp.of Captives.
25 S. Ftnbary Bp. of Cork.
S. Cleofrid, Abbot.
26 SS. Cyprian <fe Justina,
Martyrs.
27 SS. Cosmas & Damian,
Martyrs.
28 S. Wenceslaus, Duke
and Martyr.
29 Dedication of S. Michael,
Archangel
30 S. Jerom, Priest, Conf.
and Doctor.
• Festival of holy Name of
B. V. M., Sunday within Octave
of Nativity B. V. M. — Seven Do-
lors, Srd Sunday in September.
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22
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.
OCTOBER, 31 DAYS.
1 S. Remigius, B. and 0.
S. Odran , Conf.
2 Feast of the On. Angels.
3 S. Dionysius the Areo-
pagite. Bp. and M.
4 f § -Francis of Assisinm,
Confessor.
5 SS. Placidns and Com-
panions, Martyrs.
6 fS. Bruno, Confessor.
7 S. Mark, Pope & Conf.
SS. Sergius, &c. MM.
8 S. Bridget, Widow. S.
Corcra , Abbot.
9 SS. Dionysius, Rusticus,
<fec. Martyrs.
10 S. Francis Borgia, Cotif.
1 1 S. Kenny , Abbot, patron
of Kilkenny.
12 S. Mobiles, Ab. of Glas-
naidh. S. Wilfrid, B.C.
13 S. Edward, King & Cotif.
S. Colman, M.
14 S. Callistus, Pope & M.
15 fS. Teresa, Virgin.
16 S. Gaul, Abbot. S.Syra,
Abbess.
17S. Hedwiges, or A voice.
Duchess of Poland, W •
18 S. Luke, Evangelist.
19 S. Peter of Alcantara, C.
20 S. John Cantius, Conf.
S. Aidan , Bishop.
21 S. Hilarion, Abbot. JSS.
Ursula & Companions,
Virgins and Martyrs.
22 S. Donatus Bp. & Conf.
23 S. Tbeodoret, Martyr.
24 S. Raphael, Archangel.
25 SS. Chrysanthus and
Daria, MM.
26 S. Evaristus, Pope <fe M.
27 S. Abban, Ab. S. Oteran ,
Bp. & Conf. Vigil.
28 SS. Simon & Jude, Ap.
29 S. Colman , Bp. & Com.
30 S. Marcellas, Martyr.
31 S. Folian, M. S. Quin-
tin, M. Vigil. Fast.
• Feast of the Rosary of the
B. V. M., 1st Sunday in October.
Anniversary of the Dedication of
the Churches of Ireland, 2d Sun-
day in October.
NOVEMBER, 30 DAYS.
1 Festival of All
SainTs, with an Oct.
2 Commem. of All Souls.
S. Ere, Bp. of Slane.
3 S. Malaehy , Bishop of
Armagh, Conf.
4 S. Charles Borromeo,
B.&C. SS.Vitalis and
Agricola, MM.
5 S. Bertile, Abbess.
6 S. Leonard, Confessor.
7 S. Willibrord, Conf.
8 Oct. of All Sfcints. Four
Crowned Brothers, M M .
9 Dedication of our Sa-
viour’s Church, called
S. John of Lateran. S.
Theodoras, M.
10 S. Andrew Avellina, C.
SS. Triphon, &c. MM.
11 S. Martin of Tours, B.
and C. S. Mennas, M.
12 S. Martin, Pope & M.
S. Lwin , B.& M*
13 S. Didaous, C. S. Chil-
ten, Priest. S. Stanis-
las Kostka, C.
14 S. Laurence , B. & C.
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NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 23
15 S. Gertrude, Virgin.
16 S. Edmond, B. & C.
17 S. Gregory Thaumatur-
gns, B.C. S. Duloch, C.
18 Dedica. of the Chnrches
of SS. Peter & Pan!.
19 S. Elizabeth, Widow,
S. Pontain, Pope & M.
20 fS. Felix of Valois, C.
21 Presentation of the Bles-
sed Virgin Mary.
22 S. Cecily, V. and M.
23 S. Clement, Pope & M.
S. Felicitas, M.
24 S. Columbon , Abbot. S.
John of the Cross, C.
S. Chrysogonns, M. S.
Caiman , B. C.
25 S. Catharine, V. & M.
26 S. Peter of Alexandria,
Bishop and Martyr.
27 S. Virgil , B. & C. S.
Secundin , Bishop
28 S. Stephen the Younger,
Martyr.
29 S. Satuminus, Bishop <fe
Martyr. Vigil.
30 S. Andrew, Ap. S. Bren -
dany of Birr, Abbot.
• Feast of the Protection of the
B. V. M., 2d Sunday in Nov.
DECEMBER, 31 DAYS.
1 S. Eligius, Bp. & Conf.
2 S. Bibiana, V. & M.
3 Francis Xavier, Conf.
Apostle of the Indies.
4 S. Peter Chrysologus,
Bp. & Conf. S. Barbara,
Virgin & Martyr.
5 S. Sabbas, Abbot
6 S. Nicholas, Bp. & Conf.
7 S. Ambrose, Bishop, Con-
fessor, ana Doctor.
8 Concept, of the B. V. M.
with an Octave.
9 S. Leocadia, V. & M.
10 S. Melchiades, P. 8c M.
11 S. Damascus, P. & C.
12 S. Finiany Bishop. SS.
Epimachus, &c. MM.
13 S. Lucy, Virg. & M.
14 SS. Fingary and Com-
panions, MM. S. Spi-
ridion, Bp. & Conf.
15 Octave of the Conception
of the B. V. M.
16 S. Eusebius, B. & Mart.
S. Beanmi Bishop.
17 S. Olympias, Widow.
18 Expectation of the Bles-
sed Virgin Mary. In
the Diocess of Killaloe,
S. Flannan , B. & C.
91 S. Samthana, Vir.&Ab.
S. Nimesion, Mart.
20 S. Philagonius, Bishop
and Confessor. Vigil.
21 S. Thomas, Apostle.
22 S. Ischyrion, Martyr.
23 S. Serbulus, Confessor.
24 Vigil of the Nativ. Fast.
25 Nativity of our Lord.
26 S. Stephen, first Martyr.
S. Jarlath , Bishop of
Tuam, Confessor.
27 S. John, Apost. & Evan.
28 Feast of the Holy Inno-
cents, with an Oct.
29 S. Thomas, Bishop of
Canterbury, Martyr.
30 The Office of the Sunday
within Octave of the
Nativity.
31 S. Sylvester, Pope & C.
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MORNING PRAYER.
MORNING PRAYER is a duty which God requires
as the first fruits of the day : — most religiously then
should it be consecrated to him. The success of our
actions for the rest of the day, depends in a great
measure upon this first duty. To begin the day without
imploring God’s grace, and thanking him sincerely for
the repose of the night, is certainly to expose ourselves to
infinite danger.
But before prayer, recollect yourself a moment; think
what you are, of yourself, and what God is, to whom
you are going to speak. You will thus conceive the im-
portance of the action, and the sentiments of humility, of
regret for your faults, of attention, respect, and modesty,
of fervour, love, and confidence, with which you should
address him.
Awaking in the Morning, say :
0 my God, my only good, the author of my
being, and my last end, I offer thee my heart.
Praise, honour, and glory he to thee, for ever
and ever. Amen.
At Up-rising, say :
* In the name of the Father, ijt and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
1 will arise from this bed of sleep, to adore
my God, and to labour for the salvation of my
soul. O ! may I arise on the last day to life
everlasting !
While clothing yourself, say :
O my God, clothe my soul with the nuptial
robe of charity, and grant that I may carry it
pure and undefiled before thy judgment-seat.
c
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26
MORNING PRAYER.
When clothed, kneel down, and say :
*
In the name of the Father, &c. Amen.
Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity,
now and for evermore. Amen.
Come, O Holy Ghost, take possession of my
heart, and enkindle therein the fire of thy divine
love. Amen.
Attend seriously to the presence of God ; return him thanks
for his benefits ; and offer yourself to him without
reserve.
O eternal God ! most holy and adorable
Trinity ! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; the
beginning and end of all things ; in whom we
live, move, and have our being ; I firmly be-
lieve that thou art here present ; I adore thee
with the most profound humility ; I praise thee ;
I give thee thanks from the bottom of my heart,
for having created me after thine own image
and likeness, and redeemed me with the pre-
cious blood of thy Son ; for having hitherto pre-
served me, and brought me safe to the begin-
ning of this day. Behold, O Lord, I offer thee
my whole being, and in particular all my
thoughts, words, and actions, together with
such crosses and contradictions as I may meet
with in the course of this day. I consecrate
them entirely to the glory of thy name, in union
with those of Jesus Christ my Saviour, that,
through his infinite merits, they may find ac-
ceptance in thy sight. Give them, O Lord,
thy blessing. May thy divine love animate
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MORNING PRAYER. 27
them ; and may they all tend to the greater
honour of thy Sovereign Majesty. Amen.
Resolve to avoid evil, and to do good.
Adorable Jesus ! divine model of that per-
fection to which all Christians should aspire ; I
will endeavour this day, after thy example, to
be mild, humble, chaste, zealous, patient, cha-
ritable, and resigned. Incline my heart, O
Lord, to keep thy commandments. I am re-
solved to watch over myself with the greatest
diligence and circumspection, and to live so-
berly, justly, and piously for the time to come.
I will place a guard on my mouth, and a gate
of prudence before my lips, that I may not
offend with my tongue. I will turn away my
eyes, that they may not see vanity ; and I will
be particularly attentive not to relapse into my
accustomed failings ; but will struggle against
them, and with thy gracious assistance, correct
them. Enlighten my mind, O Lord ; purify
my heart, and guide my steps, that I may pass
this and the remaining days of my life in thy
divine service. Amen.
Implore the necessary Graces.
Thou knowest, O God, my weakness ; thou
knowest that I am so poor and destitute, that
I cannot do, or even think of any good, without
thy assistance ; arise, therefore, to my help, and
strengthen me with thy grace, that I may fer-
vently execute what I have firmly resolved, and
not only avoid all the evil thou forbiddest ; but
also perform all the good thou commandest.
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MORNING PRAYER.
THE LORD’S PRAYER.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be
thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be
done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread ; and forgive us our tres-
passes, as we forgive them that trespass against
us. And lead us not into temptation ; hut de-
liver us from evil. Amen.
THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION.
Hail Mary, full of grace, our Lord is with
thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now
and at the hour of our death. Amen.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus
Christ, his only Son, our Lord ; who was con-
ceived by the Holy Ghost ; born of the Virgin
Mary ; suffered under Pontius Pilate ; was cru-
cified, dead, and buried; he descended into
hell; the third day he arose again from the
dead ; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at
the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he will come to judge the living
and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the Holy Catholic Church ; the communion of
saints ; the forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection
of the body ; and life everlasting. Amen. '
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MORNING PRAYER.
29
THE CONFITEOR.
I confess to Almighty God, to blessed
Mary ever a Virgin, to blessed Michael the
archangel, to blessed John the baptist, to the
holy apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the
saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought,
word, and deed, through my faulty through my
faulty through my grievous fault . Therefore I
beseech the blessed Mary ever a Virgin, the
blessed Michael the archangel, the blessed John
the baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul,
and all the saints, to pray to the Lord our God
for me.
May almighty God have mercy on me,
forgive me my sins, and bring me to everlasting
life. Amen.
May the almighty and merciful Lord grant
me pardon, absolution, and remission of all my
sins. Amen.
Invoke the blessed Virgin, your Angel guardian, and your
Patron Saint.
O holy Virgin ! Mother of God ! my ad-
vocate and patroness ! pray for thy poor ser-
vant; prove thyself a mother to me. And thou,
O blessed Spirit ! my Guardian Angel, whom
God in his mercy hath appointed to watch over
me, intercede for me this day, that I may not
stray from the paths of virtue. Our glorious
apostle St. Patrick, and thou also, O happy
saint, whose name I bear, pray for me, that I
may serve God faithfully in this life, as thou
c 2
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30
MORNING PRAYER,
hast done, and with thee glorify him eternally
in heaven. Amen.
INDULGENCES
TO BE OBTAINED BY THE FAITHFUL, WHO DEVOUTLY
REPEAT ACTS OF FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY.
A Plenary Indulgence once a month, is obtained by
those who repeat Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity,
devoutly, once every day ; and who, on any day of that
month, shall confess and receive the holy Communion,
and pray for peace and concord among Christian princes,
for the extirpation of heresy, and the exaltation of the
Catholic Church ; granted by Pope Benedict XIII. the
25th of January, 1728, and confirmed by Pope Benedict
XIV. the 28th of January, 1756; who further granted the
application thereof for the relief of the souls in purgatory;
ana also an Indulgence of seven years’ and seven forty
days’ penance, to all the faithful, as often as they
devoutly repeat the same. Pope Clement XIV. the 5th
of April, 1772, made this Indulgence perpetual to the
Catholics of this kingdom; but requires an Act of
Contrition to be made previous to the Acts of Faith.
Hope, and Charity. This Indulgence may be applied
also for the relief of the souls in purgatory.
ACTS
OF
FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY,
A PRAYER BEFORE THE ACTS.
O almighty and eternal God ! grant unto us
an increase of F aith, Hope, and Charity ; and
that we may obtain what thou hast promised,
make us love and practise what thou com-
mandest ; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
AN ACT OF CONTRITION.
O my God ! I am heartily sorry for having
offended thee ; and I detest my sins most sin-
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MORNING PRAYER.
31
merely, because they are displeasing to thee,
my God, whom I should have never ceased to
adore and love. I now firmly purpose, by the
assistance of thy holy grace, never more to
offend thee ; and to avoid for the future, to the
utmost of my power, all dangerous occasions
which might expose me to sin.
AN ACT OF FAITH.
O my God ! I firmly believe that thou art
one only God, the Creator and Sovereign Lord
of heaven and earth, infinitely great, infinitely
good, and infinitely perfect. I firmly believe
that in thee, one only God, there are three
Divine Persons, really distinct, and in all
things equal, the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost. I firmly believe that God the
Son, the second person of the most Holy Tri-
nity, became man ; that he was conceived by
the Holy Ghost, and was born of the Virgin
Mary ; that he suffered and died on a cross to
redeem and save us : that he arose on the third
day from the dead ; that he ascended into hea-
ven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father,
always living to make intercession for us ; that
he will come at the end of the world to judge
mankind, and render to every one according
to his works ; that he will reward the good
with eternal happiness and condemn the wicked
to the everlasting pains of hell. I believe these
and all other articles which the Holy Roman
Catholic Church proposes to our belief, because
thou, my God, the infallible Truth, hast re-
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32
MORNING PRAYER.
vealed them ; and thou hast commanded us to
hear the Churchy which is the Pillar and
the Ground of Truth, In this Faith I am
firmly resolved, through thy holy grace, to live
and die.
AN ACT OF HOPE.
O my God ! who hast graciously promised
every blessing, even heaven itself, through
Jesus Christ, to those who keep thy com-
mandments : relying on thy power which
is infinite, thy mercies, which are over all thy
works, and thy promises, to which thou art
always faithful, I confidently hope to obtain
the pardon of my past sins, which I now de-
test ; grace to serve thee faithfully in this life,
by doing the good works thou hast commanded ;
and eternal happiness in the next, through my
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
AN ACT OF CHARITY.
O my God ! my Creator ! my Redeemer ! my
Sovereign Good! whose boundless charity to
me has been unceasing, and whose infinite
perfections adoring angels behold with un-
speakable delight, I love thee with my whole
heart and soul, and above all things ; and for
thy sake I love my neighbour as myself. Oh,
teach me, my gracious God, to love thee daily
more and more; and mercifully grant that
having loved thee on earth, I may love and
enjoy thee for ever in heaven.
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MORNING PRAYER.
33
1
A PIOUS DEVOTION,
For a perpetual glorification of the MOST HOLY
TRINITY, and the INCARNATION of our Blessed
Redeemer JESUS CHRIST, first instituted in France,
with the approbation of Christopher Beaumont, late
Archbishop of Paris, and confirmed by a decree of his
Holiness Pious VI. issued the 15th May, 1784; who,
in order to promote and extend the same, was pleased
to grant an Indulgence for the City of Rome, and the
Faithful throughout the world, who shall voluntarily
associate themselves in the practice of this devotion
according to the intention of his Holiness, in the follow-
ing manner.
Three persons, united in our Lord by the bands of
mutual charity, are to engage themselves voluntarily
(though without any obligation of conscience) to practise
a religious exercise, which consists in adoring the three
divine Persons three times a-day, viz, morning, noon,
and night, reciting seven Gloria Patris , &c. and one
Ave , &c. each time, to adore the Incarnation of the
Eternal Word, and in honour of the most holy Virgin
Mother of God. These prayers may be said either in
common or separately, according to the convenience or
inclinations of the persons associated ; and in order that
these unions may be continued, it is necessary that the
associates should be mutually acquainted , that in case of
a vacancy by death or otherwise, the loss may be repaired
by appointing another ; by which means this pious society
may be perpetuated to the end of time.
LITANY OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy
on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ hear us, Christ graciously hear us,
God the Father of heaven,
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, I § 3 fcj
God the Holy Ghost, ( § J |
Holy Trinity one God, J *
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34 / MORNING PRAYER.
Jesus, Son of the living God,
Jesus, Splendour of the Father,
Jesus, Brightness of Eternal Light,
Jesus, King of Glory,
Jesus, Sun of Justice,
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,
Jesus, most amiable,
Jesus, most adorable,
Jesus, the mighty God,
Jesus, Father of the World to come,
Jesus, Angel of the Great Council,
Jesus, most powerful,
Jesus, most patient,
Jesus, most obedient,
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Jesus, Lover of Chastity,
Jesus, Lover of Peace, }■
Jesus, Lover of us,
Jesus, Author of Life,
Jesus, Example of Virtues,
Jesus, zealous Lover of Souls,
Jesus, our God,
Jesus, our Refuge,
<Jesus, Father of the Poor,
Jesus, Treasure of the Faithful,
Jesus, good Shepherd,
Jesus, true Light,
Jesus, eternal Wisdom,
Jesus, infinite Goodness,
Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life,
Jesus, Joy of Angels,
Jesus, King of Patriarchs,
Jesus, the Inspirer of the Prophets,
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Have mercy on us.
MORNING PRAYER.
35
Jesus, Master of the Apostles, ^
Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists,
Jesus, Strength of Martyrs, 1 1 *
Jesus, Light of Confessors, g |
Jesus, Spouse of Virgins, *
Jesus, Crown of all Saints, J ^
Be merciful unto us, Spare us, O Lord Jesus !
Be merciful unto us, Hear us, O Lord Jesus !
From all sin,
From thy wrath,
From the snares of the devil,
From the spirit of uncleanness,
From everlasting death,
From the neglect of thy holy inspirations,
Thro’ the mystery of thy holy incarnation,
Thro’ thy nativity,
Thro’ thy divine infancy,
Thro’ thy sacred life,
Thro’ thy labours,
Thro’ thy cross and passion,
Thro’ thy pains and torments,
Thro’ thy death and burial,
Thro’ thy glorious resurrection.
Thro’ thy triumphant ascension,
Thro* thy joys and glory,
In the day of judgment, J
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of
the world s Spare us, O Lord Jesus !
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of
the world : Hear us, O Lord Jesus !
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of
the worlds Have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus !
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MORNING PRAYER.
Lord J esus, hear us ! Lord J esus, graciously
hear us !
O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said, Ask ,
and ye shall receive ; seek , and ye shall find ;
knock , and it shall be opened unto you ; merci-
fully attend to our supplications, and grant us
the gift of divine charity, that we may ever love
thee with our whole hearts, and never cease
from praising thy holy name ; who liveth and
reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.
THE SALVE REGINA.
Hail to the Queen who reigns above,
Mother of clemency and love ;
Hail thou, our hope, life, sweetness ; we,
Eve’s banish’d children, cry to thee.
We, from this wretched vale of tears,
Send sighs and groans unto thy ears ;
O then, sweet Advocate ! bestow
A pitying look on us below.
After this exile let us see
Our blessed Jesus, bom of thee.
O merciful, O pious Maid,
O gracious Mary, lend thy aid.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God ;
R. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY.
O ALMIGHTY and eternal God ! who didst
prepare the body and soul of the glorious Mary,
Mother and Virgin, that by the co-operation
of the Holy Ghost she might become a worthy
dwelling for thy Son ; grant, that as we re-
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MORNING PRAYER.
37
joice in her commemoration, so by her pious
intercession we may he delivered both from
present evils and everlasting death: through
the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
THE ANGELUS DOMINI.
To be said morning, noon, and night, in memory of
the adorable mystery of the Incarnation of our blessed
Saviour.
1. The Angel of the Lord declared unto
Mary : and she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail, Mary, &c.
2. Behold the handmaid of the Lord s May
it be done unto me according to thy word.
Hail, Mary, &c.
3. And the word was made Flesh: And
dwelt among us. Hail, Mary, &c.
LET US PRAY.
Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy
grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the
incarnation of Christ thy Son was made known
by the message of an angel, may, by his pas-
sion and cross, he brought to the glory of his
resurrection : through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Should the duties of your state of life afford you leisure,
you may, after Morning Prayers, recite the prayer peculiar
to the day, which may be found amongst me “Devotions
for every Day in the Week meditate also on the proper
Reflections of the day, which may be seen amongst the
“ Pious Reflections for every Day in the Month.”
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38
MORNING PRAYER.
ASPIRATIONS AND EJACULATIONS
Which may be secretly repeated in the heart, amidst the
ordinary actions of the day.
O my God, grant me the grace never to
offend thee.
O my God, teach me to love thee with my
whole heart, and sonl, and mind, and strength,
in time and eternity.
Too late have I known thee, O infinite
goodness.
Too late have I loved thee, O eternal beauty.
To thee, O God ! to thee alone he all honour,
and glory, and praise, and adoration, for ever.
Mortify in me, O J esus, whatever displeaseth
thee ; and make me according to thine own heart.
O blessed Jesus ; give me grace to learn of
thee to be meek and humble of heart, that I
may be united with thee, and find rest for my
sold.
O my God, and my All! teach me in all
things to do thy holy wilL
O Lord ! keep me from sin, and grant me
the grace of a happy death.
O Fountain of all Goodness ! have mercy on
me.
O my God, grant me the grace to perform
all my works with the pure intention of pleas-
ing thee.
Let the name of the Lord be blessed and
glorified for ever and ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost.
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PRAYERS FOR NIGHT. 39
From the rising of the sun unto the going
down of the same, the name of the Lord is
worthy of praise.
I will bless the Lord at all times ; his praise
shall ever be in my mouth.
Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and let all that
is within me bless his holy name.
Thanks be to God for all his benefits.
Praise be to thee, O Christ ; blessed be thy
holy name, O Jesus.
O God of my heart, and my portion for ever ;
O let nothing in life or death ever separate
me from thee.
O rather let me die a thousand deaths than
offend thee mortally.
u In all thy works aim at perfection.” — Eccles. xxxiii.23.
PRAYERS FOR NIGHT.
If it be a duty of the greatest importance to begin the
day well, it is, doubtless, one of no less consequence to
conclude it properly. The new graces conferred on us
during the course of the day, and the protection we stand
in need of against the dangers of the night, are urgent
reasons why we should address ourselves to God, and
pray to him with the utmost gratitude and fervour.
A daily Examination of Conscience, both in general,
with regard to our whole conduct throughout the day,
and in particular, with regard to our predominant vice,
passion, or evil custom, ana the particular virtue we want
to acquire, is strongly recommended by all spiritual writers,
as one of the most important duties of a Christian life,
and the most profitable exercise we can apply ourselves to,
both for the avoiding of sin, and the acquiring of virtue.
It is a looking-glass , in which we see ourselves in our true
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PRAYERS FOR NIGHT.
colours, and come to the knowledge of our sins and evil
inclinations. It is a sponge , by which we wipe away
giilt from our souls, and become the more pure before
od, the more diligently we practise it. If we do not
daily weed the garden of our souls by this holy exercise,
the corrupt ground of the heart will naturally produce
vices and imperfections in abundance.
The nightly Examination of Conscience makes up the
principal part of the last exercise of the day. The method
thereof consists in the following acts, viz., of the presence
of God, thanksgiving, supplication, examen, sorrow, and
good resolutions.
The many single blessings which God has bestowed and
does bestow on tnose families where prayers are regularly
said in common, should alone be a sufficient inducement
to establish this practice every where, and chiefly at night,
when all may be assembled with greater convenience. —
u Where two or three persons shall be assembled in my
name , there” saith Christ, u shall I be in the midst of
them,” O Christians, what stronger inducement can we
have to procure so great a happiness P
*
In the name of the Father, &c. Amen.
Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity,
now and for evermore. Amen.
Come, O Holy Ghost, replenish the hearts of
the faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of thy
divine love. Amen.
Let us place ourselves in the presence of God, and humbly
adore nim.
Impressed with the most lively sense of the
presence of thy Eternal Majesty, I adore thee,
O my God ! I believe in thee, because thou art
truth itself ; I hope in thee, because thou art
faithful to thy word ; I love thee with my whole
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PRAYERS FOR NIGHT.
41
heart, because thou art infinitely amiable and
worthy of my love ; and, for thy sake, I love
my neighbour as myself.
Let us return thanks to God for the favours he has con-
ferred on us.
Enable me, O Lord, to return thee sufficient
thanks for all thy inestimable blessings and
favours.
Thou hast thought of me, and loved me, from
all eternity ; thou hast formed me from nothing ;
thou hast delivered up thy beloved Son to the
ignominious death of the cross for my redemption ;
thou didst preserve me from falling into the abyss
of eternal misery, when my sins had often pro-
voked thee to cut the slender thread of my life,
which thou heldest in thy all-powerful and chas-
tising hand ; and thou still continuest to preserve
me, notwithstanding I still continue to offend
thee. Alas ! my God, what return can I make
for the innumerable blessings thou hast con-
ferred on me, during the whole course of my
life, as well as for the particular favours of this
day ? O all ye angels and saints ! unite with
me in praising the God of Mercies, who is so
bountiful to so unworthy a creature.
Let us beg of God to make our sins known to us.
O eternal Source of Light! who saidst,
" Let there he light? and there was light ; illu-
minate the darkness of my understanding, and
dispel those shades of ignorance and error,
which conceal from me the filth and enormity
D 2
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PRAYERS FOR NIGHT.
of my offences. Discover to me, I beseech thee,
all the sins I have committed this day, whether
in thought, word, deed, or omission ; grant me
a lively sense of their enormity, in order that I
may hold them in the utmost detestation, and
dread nothing so much as ever to commit them
hereafter.
Let us examine our consciences, and consider where and
in what company we have been this day. Let us also
call to mind the sins we have committed against God,
our neighbour, and ourselves, and reflect whether we
have fulfilled the duties of our state of life.
Against God : By omission or negligence
in the discharge of our religious duties ; irre-
verence in the church; wilful distractions or
inattention at prayer ; resistance to the divine
grace; oaths; murmurings; want of confidence
and resignation. Pause and examine .
Against our Neighbour : By rash Judg-
ments ; hatred ; Jealousy ; contempt ; desire of
revenge ; quarrelling ; passion ; imprecations ;
injuries ; detraction ; raillery ; false reports ;
damaging, either in goods or reputation ; bad
example ; scandal ; want of obedience, respect,
charity, or fidelity. Pause and examine .
Against Ourselves : By vanity ; human
respect ; lies ; thoughts, desires, discourses, or
actions contrary to purity ; by intemperance,
rage, or impatience ; by an useless and sensual
life ; or by sloth, in not complying with the
duties of our state. Pause and examine.
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PRAYERS FOR NIGHT. 43
Repeat the General Confession, u I confess,” &c. p. 29.
PRAYER.
Penetrated with grief, and overwhelmed
with confusion, at the sight of my iniquities, I
acknowledge myself unworthy, O Lord, to he
numbered amongst thy servants, much less to
he accounted thy child. Is it possible I could
repay such infinite patience and goodness with
so much malice and ingratitude? Creator of
heaven and earth ! I have sinned against thee !
I have, alas ! offended thee, who are so good,
so amiable, and so worthy of my love! Yet,
Lord, when I consider that I am the work of
thy hands, and the price of the blood of thine
only Son, who expired on the cross for my sal-
vation, I cease to despair of thy pardon. It is
therefore through his infinite merits, that I im-
plore and hope that thou wilt grant me the
forgiveness of my sins. Have pity on me, O
eternal Father, and spare me, for the sake
of thy beloved Son. Turn away thy face from
my sins, and blot out my iniquities. I am
heartily sorry for them, because they are of-
fensive to thee; and shall continue to repent
sincerely of them to the very hour of my death.
Amen.
Let us make a firm purpose of amendment.
O almighty and eternal God, I wish from
the bottom of my heart, that I had never sin-
ned against thee; hut since I have been so
unhappy, O grant me now thy grace, that I
may never offend thee more. Thou hast said :
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PRAYERS FOR NIGHT.
“ I will not the death of a sinner, hut rather that
he he converted and live.” Convert me there-
fore, and I shall he converted. “ Have mercy
on me according to thy great mercy ; and ac-
cording to tjie multitude of thy tender mercies,
blot out my iniquities.” I renounce all sin,
firmly purposing henceforth to walk in the path
of thy commandments. This fixed resolution
I am determined to keep, with the assistance
of thy grace, purchased for me through the in-
finite merits of thine only Son, Christ Jesus our
Lord. Amen.
Repeat the Lord’s Prayer, the Angelical Salutation, the
Creed, the Acts of the Theological virtues, and the An-
gelus Domini, as in Morning Prayer.
THE LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
ANTHEM.
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother
of God ! despise not our prayers in our neces-
sities, but deliver us from all dangers, O thou
ever glorious and blessed Virgin.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have
mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, 1 Pray
Holy Mother of God, j for us.
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PRAYERS FOR NIGHT.
Holy Virgin of Virgins,
Mother^of Christ,
Mother of Divine Grace,
Most pure Mother,
Most chaste Mother,
Mother undefiled.
Mother unviolated,
Most amiable Mother,
Most admirable Mother,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Redeemer,
Most prudent Virgin,
Most venerable Virgin,
Most renowned Virgin,
Most powerful Virgin,
Most merciful Virgin,
Most faithful Virgin,
Mirror of Justice,
Seat of Wisdom,
Cause of our Joy,
Spiritual Vessel,
Honourable Vessel,
Vessel of singular Devotion,
Mystical Rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of Ivory
House of Gold,
Ark of the Covenant,
Gate of Heaven,
Morning Star,
Health of the Weak,
Refuge of Sinners,
Comforter of the Afflicted,
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PEAYERS FOR NIGHT.
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of All Saints,
Lamb of G-od, who takest away the sins of
the world : Spare us, O Lord .
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the
world : Graciously hear us, O Lord,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the
world : Have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on
us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Our Father, &c.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God ;
R. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
PRAYER.
Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy
grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the in-
carnation of Christ thy Son was made known by
the message of an angel, may, by his passion
and cross, be brought to the glory of his resur-
rection; through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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PRAYERS FOR NIGHT. 4T
PRAYER.
Bless, O Lord, the repose I am going to take,
that by renewing my bodily strength, I may be
the better enabled to serve thee. O all ye
saints and angels, but especially thou, O Mother
of God, intercede for me, not only during this
night, and the rest of my life, but more particu-
larly at the hour of my death. Amen.
ANOTHER PRAYER.
Pour down thy blessings, O Lord, on my
parents, benefactors, friends, and on my enemies
too, if I have any. Protect my superiors, spi-
ritual and temporal. Help the poor and sick,
and those that are in their last agony. Con-
vert all heretics and unbelievers. O God of
mercy and goodness ! have mercy on the souls
of the faithful in purgatory; put an end to
their sufferings; and grant to all those for
whom I am particularly bound to pray, eternal
light, rest, and happiness. Amen.
HYMN.
Before the closing of the day,
Creator, we thee humbly pray,
That for thy wonted mercy’s sake,
Thou us into protection take.
May nothing in our minds excite
Vain dreams and phantoms of the night;
Our enemy repress, that so
Our bodies no uncleanness know.
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PRAYERS FOR NIGHT.
In this, most gracious Father, hear,
Through Christ thy equal Son, our prayer ;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.
PRAYER.
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habita-
tion, and drive away from it all the snares of
the enemy.; let thy holy angels dwell therein to
preserve us in peace ; and may thy blessing be
upon us for ever; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May the divine assistance remain always
with us. Amen.
Before you go to bed, read a chapter in some spiritual
book. Resolve within yourself on the subject of the
next morning’s meditation, which may be found amongst
the u Pious Reflections for every Day in the Month,” and
think upon it while you are undressing. When you compose
yourself in bed, think on your grave, ana how soon
death, of which sleep is an image, will be with you^ and
what your sentiments will then be of all worldly vanities.
Offer up your sleep to God, submitting it with a pure
intention to his holy will ; that by this repose of nature
you may recover new vigour of mind and body to serve
him. 'Wish that every breath you are to draw this
night, may be so many acts of praise and love of the
divine Majesty, like the happy breathings of the angels
and saints. wno never sleep; and so compose yourself
to rest in tne arms of your Saviour.
If you awake in the night, renew the offering of yourself
to God, saying:
“ My soul hath desired thee in the night.”
Isaiah, xxvi. 9.
Into thy hands, O Lord, I recommend my
spirit: Lord Jesus, receive my soul, &c.
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A PRAYER BEFORE SERMON, &C. 49
▲ PRAYER BEFORE SERMON, SPIRITUAL
READING, &C.
O incomprehensible Creator, true foun-
tain of light, and only author of all knowledge,
vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to enlighten our
understanding with the rays of thy wisdom, and
to chase away from our minds all darkness of
sin and ignorance. Thou who makest eloquent
the tongues of those that want utterance, pour
on our lips, and into our hearts , the grace of
thy blessing; give us a diligent and obedient
spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of
retaining, and the continual assistance of thy
holy grace : that we may apply whatever we
hear, read, or meditate on, to thy honour, and
the eternal salvation of our own souls : through,
&c. Amen.
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ON THE MASS.
Of all the duties prescribed by our holy religion, the
Sacrifice of the Mass is that which is most pleasing
to God, and most salutary to man. Here it is that Jesus
Christ renews the great mystery of our redemption ; here
doth he make himself our victim in a real, though un-
bloody sacrifice, and in person applieth to each of us the
merits of that blood, which, hanging on a cross, he was
pleased to shed for mankind. This should give us the
most sublime idea of the Mass, and make us desire to hear
it with the utmost reverence and devotion ; for to assist at
it irreverently, or without putting a proper restraint on
our eyes and our whole exterior, is to dishonour religion,
and renew, as far as in us lies, the insults he received on
Mount Calvary. To avoid then so great an evil, let us
always come to this august sacrifice with the most earnest
devotion; let us enter into the spirit of Christ; let us
offer ourselves up with him, and as he does ; let the church,
as we enter it, strike us with awe ; let our modesty and
recollection be uninterrupted from the beginning to the
end thereof; let our hearts, thoughts, ana imaginations
be, as it were, buried in God, and the interests of our
souls.
The Practical Reflections (in small letter) at the head
of each prayer, may help to excite our attention.
The Acts of Faith? Hope, and Charity, usually read
on Sundays and Holidays, before Mass, may be found
in page 30.
0 merciful Father, who didst so
love the world as to give up thy only
Son to death, even the death of the
cross, for our redemption ; vouchsafe,
through his infinite merits, to accept in
our behalf the most holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, in the offering of which we are
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A PRAYER BEFORE MASS. 51
about to participate. We approach thy
throne, O Lord, with humble but firm
hope, when we remember that we have
the price of the world’s redemption to
lay before thee. That price has been
paid by the death of thy ever blessed
Son; and among the wondrous means
which he has provided for applying the
fruits thereof to our souls, we contem-
plate, with especial gratitude, that en-
during memorial of his love, which he
instituted at his last supper, whereby he
enables us not only to possess within
us ; in the divine Communion, the very
Author of grace, the Victim of propitia-
tion, who died for us on the cross, but
also to present him anew to thy accept-
ance, really present on our altar, as our
Advocate and Mediator, through the
ministry of his Priests, in the adorable
Sacrifice of the Mass.
At this adorable Sacrifice we are now
assembled to assist. 0 Lord, look upon
the face of thy Christ ; and grant, that
while we unite with thy holy Church and
its Minister, in offering him before the
throne of thy mercy, for all the purposes
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52 A PRAYER BEFORE MASS.
for which he once shed his most pre-
cious blood, we may be made partakers
of the one all-atoning sacrifice which he
consumated on Calvary.
Bowing down, therefore, in humble
adoration, before thy sovereign Majesty,
we now offer the most holy Sacrifice of
the Mass to thy honour and glory, to
acknowledge thy infinite perfections, thy
supreme dominion over all thy creatures,
our entire subjection to thee, and our
total dependance on thy gracious pro-
vidence.
We offer it to thee in thanksgiving for
having created us to thine own image,
and destined us for eternal glory; for
having redeemed us from the slavery of
Satan by the precious blood of thy divine
Son; for having called us to the true
faith ; assisted us by thy graces ; borne
with our ingratitude ; watched over us
by thy special providence ; blessed us,
notwithstanding our utter unworthiness,
with the continuance of thy gracious
protection ; and for all the other innu-
merable favours- which we owe to thy
undeserved bounty.
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A PRAYER BEFORE MASS. 53
We offer it to move thee to compas-
sion for our spiritual miseries, that thou
mayest grant us the gift of compunction
and the pardon of our sins.
We offer it for the propagation of the
Catholic Faith, that all may be brought
into the one fold under the one shepherd ;
for our most holy Father the Pope, that
the spirit of wisdom, and fortitude, and
piety, may rest upon him ; for our Pre-
late, and for all the Pastors and Clergy
of thy holy Church, that they may direct
the faithful in the way of salvation ; for
the Queen, and for all who are in high
station, that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life; for concord and good
will among all states and people ; for
the necessities of mankind ; for the in-
habitants of this parish, particularly for
the congregation here present; and to
obtain all the blessings that we stand in
need of in this life, the happiness of
heaven in the next, and eternal rest to
the faithful departed.
And as Jesus Christ so ordained, when
he instituted at his last supper this won-
derful mystery of his power, wisdom,
E 2
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54 A PRAYER BEFORE MASS.
and goodness, we offer the Mass in
grateful remembrance of all that he has
done and suffered for the love of us,
making special commemoration of his
hitter passion and death, and of his glo-
rious resurrection and ascension into
heaven. Vouchsafe, O almighty and
eternal God, to whom alone the supreme
worship of sacrifice is due, graciously to
accept it for these and all other purposes
agreeable to thy holy will. We offer it,
not confiding in any merits of our own —
we offer it through the merits of the
same Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, our
High Priest and Victim, and in the name
of the most holy Trinity, the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; to
whom be honour, praise, and glory, for
ever and ever.
0 all ye Angels and Saints who stand
before the throne of God, vouchsafe to
join in our humble supplications ; and
thou, above all, 0 ever blessed Virgin,
immaculate mother of God our Saviour,
assist us with thy prayers. We know
that thou art near to that most loving
Son, through whom only we can find
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A PEAYEB BEFORE HASS. 55
access to the throne of grace, and who
will refuse thee nothing, that through
his infinite merits thou wilt deign to
solicit for us. At thy suggestion he
wrought the stupendous miracle of
changing water into wine. Oh then,
beseech him, by all that he has suffered
for our salvation, that the still more
wondrous prodigy which he is about to
perform on our altar, may not, through
our unworthiness, be unprofitable to us ;
that he may move us to assist at it with
the deepest awe, the firmest confidence,
and the most ardent love ; that it may
thus ascend in the odour of sweetness
to the throne of mercy in our behalf, to
be to us an unfailing source of grace
here, and a pledge of eternal life here-
after. Amen.
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PRAYERS AT MASS.*
THE BEGINNING OF THE MASS.
*
In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
It is in thy name, 0 adorable Trinity,
it is to honour thee, and to do thee
homage, that I assist at this most holy
and august sacrifice. Permit me then,
0 Lord, to unite my intention with that
of thy Minister now at the altar, in of-
fering up this precious victim ; and give
me the same sentiments I ought to have
had on Mount Calvary, had I been an
eye-witness of that bloody sacrifice.
AT THE CONFITEOR.
Think, in the bitterness of yonr heart, on all your past sins, and
recollect, in a general manner, such of them as are most humiliat-
ing. Lay your weaknesses before God, and beg of him to pardon
them. Implore his assistance in all your necessities, through the
infinite efficacy of this great sacrifice.
I confess, 0 my God, not only in thy
presence, who seest the secrets of hearts,
• For an explanation of the Latin liturgy, and of the sacrifice and
sacred ceremonies of the Mass, the reader is referred to the com-
mencement of the Supplement, where also will be found the Ordi-
nary of the Mass, (in English,) as read by the priest at the altar.
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PBAYERS AT MASS. 5T
but also in the presence of all the blessed
in heaven, and faithful on earth, that I
have often and grievously offended thee
in thought, word, and deed, through my
fault, through my fault, through my most
grievous fault. Yes, Lord, I have sin-
ned ; I acknowledge to my shame, and
with the most bitter regret, that I have
ungratefully abused all thy gifts ; and
therefore I humbly beseech thee, O
blessed Virgin Mary, and all ye saints
and angels, to intercede for me. Vouch-
safe, O Lord, to listen to them ; grant
to the ardour of their prayers, what thou
mayest justly refuse to the coldness of
mine ; and to their services, that pardon
to which my offences can have no claim.
WHEN THE PRIEST IS GOING UP TO THE ALTAR.
Unite, 0 Lord, our hearts and wills,
and remove from us every thing that
may any way make us unfit for appear-
ing in thy sanctuary. Of ourselves we
are unworthy to appear in thy presence :
therefore we implore the intercession
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58 PBAYEBS AT MASS.
of the saints in our behalf. Grant to
their prayers the pardon of all our sins :
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
AT THE INTROIT.
We beseech thee, O Lord, that we
may he truly prepared for the offering
of this great sacrifice to thee this day.
Our sins alone can render us displeasing
to thee, we therefore call aloud to thee
for mercy.
at the kyrie eleison.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, and for-
give us all our sins ; and though we
have nothing of our own to move thy
goodness, let our importunity prevail :
have mercy on us, 0 Lord, have mercy
on us.
AT THE GLORIA IN EXCELSIS.
Conceive a vehement desire of promoting the glorv of God, and your
neighbour’s good. Rejoice with the angels, at tne share yon nave
in these holy mysteries ; and form to yourself the highest idea of
the majesty of God ; and of his Son Jesus Christ.
Who is like unto thee, O almighty
God ! To whom can the most unlimit-
ed tribute of honour, praise, and glory
be due, either in heaven or on earth, if
not to thee, the King of kings, the Lord
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of lords, and beneficent Creator of the
universe ! The angels and saints, with
unceasing rapture, sing forth thy praises,
and glorify thy name in heaven; and
shall not I, the work of thy hands, praise
thee also on earth ? Yes, 0 Lord !
Graciously vouchsafe to accept the ho-
mage I now pay thee, and which I pur-
pose fervently to offer thee all the days
of my life.
AT THE COLLECT.
So called, because the priest lays before God the necessities of all his
people ; their vows and desires collected ,* as it were, together ;
whence, turning to the congregation, he invites them to unite with
him in the petition, saying : Or emu*, or Let us Pray.
Almighty and eternal God, we hum-
bly beseech thee to look down from thy
heavenly sanctuary upon this congrega-
tion, and graciously hear these prayers,
which thy chinch addresses to thee for
us by the ministry of thy priest.
Grant us, in thy infinite mercy, pardon
of our sins, health of mind and body,
peace in our days, unity and increase of
Catholic faith, fervent charity, sincere
devotion, patience in suffering, and every
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PBAYEBS AT MASS.
thing else conducive to thy glory and
our own salvation : through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
AT THE EPISTLE.
Return God thanks for having called yon to the knowledge of his
holy law ; submit to it with perfect docilitv ; and beg of him to
extend our holy religion over the whole world.
0 eternal God, who never ceasest to
excite us to the worship and love of thy
holy name, or to arm us against the at-
tacks of the world, the flesh, and the
devil, by the public ministry of thy
church, by the doctrine of thy prophets
and apostles, and by many other holy
admonitions ; grant we may faithfully
attend to these lessons of salvation, that
thus our knowledge of thy law may
never rise in judgment against us, but
guide us securely to thee : through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
AT THE GOSPEL.
Look on the Gospel as the rule of your faith and morals; a rule
which Christ himself has drawn up; a rule which yon have
solemnly promised by your baptism to follow, and by which yon
shall most certainly be judged.
It is not thy interpreters, 0 God, who
are now to instruct me ; it is thy only
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61
Son ; it is his word I am about to hear.
I most gratefully embrace this heavenly
doctrine. I stand up to declare in the
face of heaven and earth, that I will
walk faithfully in that way which he
hath marked out for me. He tells me
here, that “ it will avail a man nothing
to gain the whole world, if he lose his
own soul ; that the sensual, the cove-
tous, the worldling, the libertine, the de-
tractor, and such as are insensible to the
miseries of the poor, shall have no share
in his heavenly kingdom; and that, in
order to become his disciple, I must
take up my cross and follow him.” I
receive with my whole heart all these
sacred maxims. Grant me the grace to
put them in practice ; for to what pur-
pose should I declare myself thy disciple,
if I were not to live according to the
maxims of thy gospel.
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PRAYERS AT MASS.
AT THE CREED.
Renew your faith in all those articles which the church proposes to
your belief, because they are founded on God’s own word, revealed
in the scriptures, announced by the prophets, supported by miracles,
confirmed by the blood of the martyrs, verified by the establishment
of our faith, and obvious by the sanctity of our religion.
I return thee infinite thanks, 0 Lord,
for having given me birth in the bosom
of the holy Catholic Church. The pre-
cious gift of faith is much more dear to
me than any advantage of birth or for-
tune. Grant me a perfect docility for
all it teaches, as well for what I under-
stand, as for what is above my concep-
tion. It is neither just nor possible that
I should fully comprehend an infinite
God, who cannot even comprehend my-
self. By thy grace I am firmly convinced
of the wisdom and sincerity of thy apos-
tles, by whom thou hast announced these
mysteries to the world. By them the
world was converted ; it submitted, and
believed them ; which, if done without a
miracle, must be in itself the greatest of
all miracles. What more then can I
desire P What surer grounds can I have P
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On these principles I rest my belief.
Here is the faith which to my last breath
I shall profess: — I firmly believe that
thou art one God in three distinct per-
sons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost, who of nothing hast created all
things. I believe, 0 heavenly Father,
that thy only Son, who is perfectly equal
to thee, holy, powerful, and eternal,
as thou art, became man for love of
us ; suffered, died on the cross, rose
again, and ascended into heaven ; from
whence he shall come at the last day to
judge the world ; and that of his blessed
kingdom there shall be no end. I be-
lieve in the Holy Ghost, who is also true
God as thou art, proceeding from thee
and thy Son : I believe that he spoke by
the prophets, and that by him we are
sanctified. I confess one baptism for the
remission of sins. I expect the resurrec-
tion of the body, and the life of the world
to come, where I firmly hope to possess
thee, Lord, for ever and ever. Amen,
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PRAYERS AT MASS.
AT THE OFFERTORY.
Consider what an advantage it is to have in thi* sacrifice, where-
withal to honour God perfectly ; to thank him in a manner equal
to his gifts; to blot out entirely your past sins; and to obtain,
both for yourself and others, all those graces you stand most in
need of.
0 holt Father, almighty and eternal
God, how unworthy soever I may appear
in thy presence, yet I presume to offer
thee tins Host, by the hands of the priest,
with the same intention which Christ
my Saviour had, when he first instituted
this august sacrifice, and which he now
has at this very instant that he immo-
lates himself for us. I offer it in ac-
knowledgment of thy supreme dominion
over me and all creatures. I offer it in
expiation of my crimes ; in thanksgiving
for all thy benefits. I offer it to obtain
from thy infinite goodness, for my pa-
rents, benefacters, friends, and enemies,
all those precious gifts and graces which
only through him can be obtained, who
is Just by excellence, and who became
a victim for the sins of men. I earnestly
entreat thee to bless and protect the
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65
holy Catholic Church, our chief pastor
the Pope, our Bishops and Clergy, the
Queen and Royal Family, and all our
fellow-subjects of every denomination.
Remember also, O Lord, the souls of
the faithful departed, and grant them,
through the merits of thy Son, eternal
light and peace. Have mercy upon all
heretics, infidels and sinners. Bless and
preserve all mine enemies ; and as I freely
forgive them the injuries they have done,
or mean to do me, so do thou, in thy
mercy, forgive me mine offences. Amen.
▲T THE PREFACE.
Raiseup your thoughts to heaven, even to the very throne of the
Divinity, and there with most holy and respectful awe, pay homage
to hie glorious majesty, mixing your own praises with those sacred
hymns with which the heavenly spirits are ever praising him.
Do thou thyself, 0 Lord, raise up my
heart ; inflame it with thy love, and free
it from all earthly affections ; let it rest
in heaven, where thou my treasure art,
and on this altar also, where thou art
going to present thyself to thy eternal
Father for our sake. As my life, O Lord,
is a continual succession of thy favours,
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PBAVEBS AT MASS.
so let my thanksgivings be also uninte-
rupted. And since thou art going to
renew the greatest of all sacrifices,
should not I also break forth into the
most lively acknowledgments P Permit
me then, O Lord, to join my feeble voice
with the host of heavenly spirits, and to
exclaim with them, in transports of joy
and admiration : “ Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God of Sabaoth : The heavens and
the earth are filled with thy glory. Bles-
sed is he who cometh in the name of the
Lord ; Hosanna in the highest.
AT THE CANON.
Represent to yourself the altar as a throne of mercy, upon which
Christ is to sit; where yon are entitled to present yourself, to
expose your wants, to ask for blessings, and obtain them. Can
he who giveth us his only Son, refuse us any other favour what-
soever?
O Father of Mercy, graciously re-
ceive this most holy Sacrifice, which we
offer to thee by the hands of thy priest,
in union with that which thy beloved
Son offered thee during his whole life,
at his last supper, and on the cross.
Look down on thy Christ, thy dearest
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PRAYERS AT MASS. 6T
and only begotten Son, “ in whom thou
art always well pleased;” and by the
infinite merits of his incarnation, nativity,
tears, labours, sufferings, and death,
have mercy upon me, and upon all
those for whom I ought to pray [here
name the particular persons ] ; my pa-
rents, brethren, friends, benefactors, re-
lations, and those who have injured me,
or whom I may have injured. I also
beseech thee to guard, prosper, and ex-
tend the holy Catholic Church ; to porn-
down thy blessings upon our chief pastor
the Pope, upon the Bishops and all the
Clergy ; enlighten and guide them in the
way of salvation. Bless and preserve
the Queen, and all the Royal Family.
Look down upon us all, I beseech thee,
0 Lord, with eyes of mercy and com-
passion. Bring us all to the perfect
practice of a holy and virtuous life here,
and to the possession of thy eternal glory
hereafter. May we all know thee ; may
we all please thee perfectly ; may we
fear, love, and glorify thee : through the
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68 PBAYEBS AT MASS.
same Jesus Christ, who, with thee and
the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one
God, world without end. Amen.
Why have not I, 0 God, at this mo-
ment, the ardent sighs with which the
holy patriarchs wished for the Messiah?
Why have not I their lively faith and
their ardent love ? Come, Lord Jesus !
come, sweet Redeemer of the world !
come quickly to accomplish a mystery,
which is an abridgment of all thy other
miracles.
Thou art, 0 Lord Jesus ! the true
pastor of souls, who didst lay down thy
life for thy flock ! Thou art the Lamb
of God, that died upon the cross to save
us ! Prostrate in spirit before thee, I
desire to praise and bless thee, both now
and for ever. Amen.
AT THE ELEVATION OF THE HOST.
Behold your God, your Saviour, and your Judge! Contemplate in
silent astonishment what passes before yon. Excite every fervent
sentiment in your soul, which fear, respect, and confidence can
inspire.
Hail, 0 Victim of Salvation ! eternal
King! incarnate Word! sacrificed for
me and all mankind ! Hail, precious
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Body of the Son of God ! sacred Flesh,
tom with nails, pierced with a lance,
and bleeding on a cross for us poor
sinners ! O amazing goodness ! O
infinite love ! 0 let that tender love
plead now in my behalf : let all my ini-
quities be here effaced, and my name be
written in the book of life. I believe in
thee ; I hope in thee ; I love thee. To
thee be honour, praise, and glory, from
all creatures, for ever and ever. Amen.
AT THE ELEVATION OP THE CHALICE.
Hail, sacred Blood, flowing from the
wounds of Jesus Christ, and washing
away the sins of the world ! 0 cleanse,
sanctify, and preserve my soul, that no-
thing in future may ever separate me
from thee. Behold, 0 eternal Father,
thy holy Jesus, and look upon the face
of thy Christ, in whom thou art well
pleased. Hear the voice of his blood
crying out to thee, not for vengeance,
but for mercy and pardon. Accept this
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TO PRAYEHS AT MASS.
divine oblation ; and through the infinite
merits of all the sufferings that Jesus
endured on the cross for our salvation,
be pleased to look upon us, and upon
all thy people, with an eye of mercy.
During the remainder of the Canon contemplate in the most affec-
tionate manner, your Saviour here present. Reflect on the mys-
teries he renews. Unite the sacrifice of your heart to that of his
body. Offer him up to God his Father, with the several intentions
of the four kinds of sacrifice offered in the Old Law, beseeching
him to accept the prayers which his dear Son addresses to him in
our behalf.
It is now, 0 eternal Father, that we
truly and really offer to thy Divine Ma-
jesty, that pure, holy, and immaculate
victim which thou thyself hast been
pleased to grant us, and of which all
other offerings were only the types and
figures. The sacrifices of Abel, of Abra-
ham, and of Melchisedech, were of no
value, when compared to ours. This
glorious victim, thy dear Son himself,
the perfect object of thy eternal love,
and alone worthy of thy altar, is an
offering by so much the more precious
than theirs, as God is greater than all
creatures.
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AS A HOLOCAUST, OR WHOLE-BURNT OFFERING.
0 sovereign Creator and Lord of all
things! graciously vouchsafe to accept
my humble homage, in union with that
which thou here receivest from Jesus
Christ, the only worthy adorer of thy
infinite Majesty. Whilst, therefore, he
immolates himself upon this altar, I
unite. my intentions with those views
and purposes himself has, in offering to
thee this his holy sacrifice. It is he alone
can form a just conception of the bound-
less excellence and unspeakable majesty
of The Great Creator of Heaven and
earth; he alone fully comprehends the
entire extent of thy dominion. He be-
holds (what we blind mortals cannot)
how far all creatures, visible and invisi-
ble, depend on thee. He plainly con-
ceives that thy dominion is absolute over
all we are, all we possess or can hope
for in time or eternity. It is in acknow-
ledgment of this thy sovereign authority,
and to make, in his name, a public pro-
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72 PBAYEHS AT MASS.
fession of our total dependence on thee,
that I unite with him in his daily renewal
of this most holy sacrifice.
AS A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING.
Vouchsafe, 0 most bountiful Lord
God, to receive this precious victim in
thanksgiving for all thy benefits. Thou
hast created me to thine own image and
likeness, and if thy all-powerful hand had
not continued to preserve the slender
thread of my life, I must ere now have fal-
len back into my original nothing. For
my sake thou didst abandon thy beloved
Son to the cruelty of the Jews, and to
an ignominious death ; nor doth a single
moment of my existence pass away with-
out fresh proofs of thy bounty. 0 that
I could, in some degree, acknowledge
those thy innumerable favours, even at
the price of my blood ; but the offering I
here make thee is infinitely more accept-
able ; it is nothing less than thy beloved
Son, equal to thee in all things, the very
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73
figure of thy substance, and splendour
of thy glory.
AS A SACRIFICE OF EXPIATION.
Remember, 0 Lord, that the sacrifice
we now offer to thee, is essentially the
same, and equally propitiatory with that
which our Saviour offered thee on Mount
Calvary, though different as to the man-
ner of offering. However base, there-
fore, our ingratitude may be, or however
manifold our transgressions, we cannot
but hope for pardon, since it is the blood
of a God we offer in atonement.
AS A SACRIFICE OF IMPETRATION.
0 God of infinite bounty, be pleased
now to crown all the favours thou hast
hitherto conferred on me, by the gifts
of a lively faith, a firm hope, and an
ardent charity. Bless all my labours
and undertakings. Give me an intuitive
knowledge of thy holy will, and an un-
shaken resolution to put it into execu-
tion. Grant me perseverance in thy
o
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grace to the end of my life. Have mercy
on the souls of the faithful departed,
particularly on those for whom I am in
a more especial manner bound to pray.
[Name them.] Deliver them, 0 Lord,
from all their sufferings, and admit them
into the mansions of everlasting bliss:
through the infinite merits ofChrist Jesus,
thy only Son, who liveth, &c. Amen.
AT THE PATER NOSTER.
Let us imagine ourselves present with Jesus on a new Calvary. Let
us remain at the foot of his cross, with the tender compassion of
Magdalen, with the ardent love of St. John ; or, standing afar off
with St. Peter, let us weep bitterly over our manifold sins and
offences.
What a happiness, 0 my God, to
have thee for my Father ! How joyful
to think, that heaven, where thou art, is
also to he my eternal dwelling-place !
May thy name he glorified throughout
the whole world. Reign, 0 Lord, over
all hearts, affections, and desires. Re-
fuse us not our spiritual and corporal
food. We freely forgive others ; do thou
also forgive us. Support us in the trials
and temptations of this life, and preserve
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us from sin, the greatest of all evils.
Amen.
AT THE AGNUS DEI.
God, so glorious in heaven ! so powerful on earth ! so dreadful in hell I
is here only a lamb, 'full of sweetness and bounty ! Behold ! he
comes here to take away the sins of the world, ana thine in par-
ticular. O what a motive of confidence ! O what a subject of con-
solation !
0 Lamb of God, sacrificed for my
sake, have mercy on me ! O adorable
Victim of my salvation, look down on
me and save me ! Divine Mediator !
obtain pardon of thy eternal Father for
me a sinner, and mercifully grant me
the sweets of thy peace. Amen.
AT THE COMMUNION.
To communicate spiritually, renew, by an act of faith; your firm
belief of Christ’s real presence . Make an act of contrition. Desire
most earnestly to receive him with the priest ; beg of him to accent
these desires, and to unite himself to you in the effusion of his
graces.
0 that I were among the number of
those whose sanctity allows them to com-
municate daily! What a happiness, O
my God ! could I at this moment erect
a throne for thee in my heart, pay thee
my homage, lay open to thee my wants,
and participate in the favours thou
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grantest to those who really and worthily
receive thee. But since I am unworthy,
do thou, 0 Lord, supply my want of
the proper dispositions. Grant the par-
don of my manifold sins, which I detest
from the bottom of my heart, because
they displease thee. Cast thy compas-
sionate eye upon me, and purify my
soul, that the ardent wish I now con-
ceive to be united to thee by a worthy
communion, may be speedily accom-
plished. But until the arrival of so
happy a moment, I earnestly entreat
thee, 0 dearest Lord, that thou wouldst
make me partaker of all those advan-
tages which the communion of the priest
may produce in those thy people. By
the efficacy of this enlivening sacrament,
increase my faith, strengthen my hope,
revive in my soul the rays of divine
charity, inflame my heart with thy love,
that it may pant only for thee, and live
for thee alone. Amen.
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AT THE LAST PRAYERS.
Strive earnestly to offer your Lord sacrifice for sacrifice, by becoming
the victim of his love. Immolate freely to him all your sinful
inclinations, and whatever is contrary to his holy will.
Since thou, 0 Lord, hast sacrificed
thyself for my salvation, shall not I de-
sire to be sacrificed for thy glory? Yes,
I am thy victim : do with me as thou
wiliest. I consecrate my whole being to
thee. I willingly accept whatever crosses
thou art pleased to send me. Receiv-
ing them from thy fatherly hand, I em-
brace them, and unite them with those
thou hast endured for my sake. Before
I quite thy temple, strengthen the reso-
lution I have made to serve thee with
more fidelity, and to struggle, not only
against my ordinary failings, hut chiefly
against that to which I am most inclined.
Thy law shall henceforth be my rule of
conduct during the remainder of my life ;
and I will forfeit every worldly conside-
ration, and suffer every calamity, sooner
than transgress it. Amen.
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AT THE BENEDICTION.
Receive the blessing from the priest, as given in the name of the
Lord. Thank him sincerely for the favours here granted yon. Lay
np with care the fruits of this sacrifice ; and let your conduct be
such, as that all who see you, may clearly perceive how much you
have profited by so holy an action.
Most holy and adorable Trinity ! as
it is by thee we began this sacrifice, so
it is by thee we desire to conclude it.
Suffer us not therefore, 0 Lord, to de-
part hence without thy blessing. Give
it us by the ministry of this priest. May
it ever remain with us ; may its influence
always direct our actions; and may it
be a sure pledge of that final benedic-
tion which thine elect shall receive,
when called by thee to thy kingdom of
eternal glory. Amen.
AT THE LAST GOSPEL.
Divine Word ! only Son of the Fa-
ther ! Light of the World ! who earnest
from heaven to show us the way thither;
I adore thy Majesty with most profound
respect ; I place my whole confidence
in thee; I most firmly hope, that as
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A PEAYEE AFTER MASS. 79
thou art my God, a God made man to
save mankind, thou wilt grant me those
graces which my sanctification may re-
quire, and also the enjoyment of thee in
glory. Amen.
A PRAYER AFTER MASS.
I return thee infinite thanks, O my
God, for permitting me to assist at this
holy sacrifice, in preference to so many
others more worthy of so great a favour ;
and I hope, that through thy great mercy,
thou wilt pardon me the faults which I
may have here committed, either by my
tepidity or inattention. Though I now
return hence to my worldly employments,
yet I will remember, through the course
of the day, what thou hast here done for
me ; and shall endeavour that no thought,
word, or action of mine, deprive me of
the advantages of which I have now
been a partaker. Amen.
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A PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION.
There is scarcely any duty of greater importance in
religion, than to receive the Sacrament of Penance with
the necessary dispositions. Penance is as indispensably
requisite for those who have fallen into sin after baptism,
as baptism itself is for such as have never been baptized.
It i 8 a second flank after the shipwreck of sin, without
which the sinner must inevitably perish . But then it is
to be observed, that this sacrament must be received with
the necessary dispositions. The cleansing of the baptis-
mal robe, and restoring it to its original purity, is not to
be effected without mucn labour and application. It would
be absurd to imagine, that the unchangeable justice of
God, which could not be satisfied but by the sufferings of
Jesus Christ, and which, notwithstanding these sufferings,
doth still condemn to eternal torments the unrepentmg
sinner; it would be absurd, I say, to imagine tnat his
justice should now be appeased by a superficial or outward
compliance with this duty, accompanied perhaps with
insincerity, gross negligence, or a fixed adherence to mor-
tal sin, and therefore destitute of real sorrow, change of
heart, and a firm purpose of amendment. The enormity
of sin is the same at this day as it ever was; it is as
unchangeable as God himself; because it is essentially a
rebellion against him; a breach of his law, an insult
offered to his eternal Majesty, and consequently not more
remissable at present in the sacrament of penance, than at
the earliest period of Christianity, when the severest
discipline prevailed, and when the fervour of primitive
penitents was so ardent. — Hence, that this merciful institu-
tion may never be frustrated of its end, and in order that
the sinner may always receive the pardon of his offences,
we must strictly fulfil these five following conditions :
I. An examination of conscience, that we may know all
our sins.
II. A hearf-felt sorrow for having committed them.
III. A firm resolution never to commit them again.
IV. A candid and humble confession of them to a priest
empowered to absolve us.
V. A desire or intention of satisfying God, and our
neighbour also, if injured.
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PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION. 81
A PROTESTATION
BEFORE THE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE.
O God, the searcher of all hearts, behold, I
here protest, in thy presence, that what I now
design is sincerely for the honour of thy name,
and because I heartily desire to he delivered
from the guilt of my sins : therefore 1 come to
thy sacrament of penance, that, complying with
thy holy institution, I may obtain thy blessing
and pardon, as thou has promised. May thy
holy grace assist me in performing this great
duty well, as it is thy mercy which has called
me to it.
Think seriously, and with the most lively gratitude, on all
the benefits God hath so liberally bestowed on you, and
particularly for his goodness in preparing this sacrament
as a remedy for your sins.
How great are my obligations to thee, O my
God, in thus providing for me, after my dis-
grace, the means of a perfect reconciliation.
To have purified me in the waters of baptism,
was not enough ; thou hast also left me the
waters of penance, to wash me still more from
my iniquities, and cleanse me from my sins.
For this end thou hast left to the church, in the
persons of the apostles, the power of remitting
our offences : " Receive ye the Holy Ghost ;
whose sins ye shall forgive , shall be forgiven?
O what excessive goodness ! What an advan-
tage to poor sinners, to have a tribunal estah-
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82 PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION.
blished for them, always open, where they may
be received into favour ! Can I ever be in-
insensible to so striking an instance of thy
bounty? I have withdrawn myself from thee
by a formal contempt of thy law, and thou art
pleased to make the first advances to meet
me : O Father of mercies, and God of good-
ness, be thou for ever blessed ! Permit me to
fly to this powerful refuge; and suffer not
that, by a new ingratitude, I should for the
future ever abuse so excellent a resource of
salvation. No: it is not human respect, nor
custom, nor the fear of being thought careless
of my soul, that brings me at present to this
sacrament of reconciliation ; no, it is a sincere
regret for having incurred thy displeasure ; for
who can be at rest, O my God, when he knows
that he is thy enemy, and that he has offended
the very best of fathers ?
PRAYERS
BEFORE THE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE.
Beg of God to make your sins known to you, and to give
you a true sense of their malice. Prostrate yourself in
spirit at the feet of your Redeemer, as Magdalen did
when she washed them with her tears ; or imagine your-
self on Mount Calvary, and there, beneath his cross,
pour forth your prayers to him, resolving to acquit your-
self of this confession, as if it were to be your last.
O holy Spirit, eternal Source of Light,
mercifully vouchsafe to enlighten the darkness
of my understanding, that I may clearly per-
ceive the true state of my conscience. Thou
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PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION. 83
who hast created me, and art to be my judge,
dost fully behold the most secret recesses of my
heart ; show me now, therefore, my sins, in as
conspicuous a manner as I shall behold them
when on the point of appearing at thy tremen-
dous tribunal. My object at present is, to pre-
vent the rigorous account I must there give of
all my thoughts, words, and actions 5 for were
I now deficient in that sincere exactness which is
necessary in the examination and confession of
my sins, thou wouldst infallibly correct, at thy
unerring tribunal, the injustice and iniquity of
such a proceeding. Discover, then, to me, O
my God, all these secret thoughts, irregular
desires, criminal words, and actions, or omis-
sions of my duty, by which I may have violated
thy sacred laws, or scandalized my neighbour.
O do not permit self-love to seduce and blind
me, but rather remove the veil it places before
my eyes, that beholding the true state of my
interior, I may make an humble and sincere
confession of my sins to thy minister.
I desire, like the prodigal child, to enter
seriously into myself, and without delay to for-
sake my evil ways, in which I have been
wearied out in the pursuit of empty toys and
mere shadows, seeking in vain to satisfy my
thirst with muddy waters, and my hunger with
the husks of swine. I ardently desire to return
to thee, O Fountain of Life ! but, O my God,
though I can go astray from thee fast enough,
when left to myself, yet I cannot make one
step towards returning to thee, unless thy divine
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84 PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION.
grace stir me up and assist me. This grace,
then, I most humbly implore, prostrate in
spirit before the throne of thy mercy. I beg it
for the sake of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, who
died upon the cross for me and for all sinners.
Thou hast said, “ There is joy in heaven for
one sinner that doeth penance Give me now
the grace of true repentance, and let heaven
rejoice at my conversion. Assist me in this
great work by thy heavenly light, in order that
I may discover all my imperfections, see all
my sins in their true colours, and sincerely
detest and confess them. I know thou desirest
not the death of a sinner, but rather that he
he converted and live. I know that thy mercies
are above all thy works, and I most confidently
hope, that as in thy mercy thou hast spared
me so long, and hast now given me this desire
of returning to thee, so thou wilt finish the
work that thou hast begun, by assisting me in
every part of my preparation for it, and bring-
ing me to a perfect reconciliation with thee.
Examine yourself attentively, not only on the sins you
have committed since your last confession, but also on the
faults you may have committed in making it ; but beware
of scrupulosity or anxiety; for in this examination it is
only necessary that you should use such a moral diligence
as any temporal concern might require, where it is neither
your intention nor your interest to be deceived. For this
purpose, calmly recollect on the different occasions of sin
which have since fallen in your way, or to which your
state and condition of life exposes you ; the places you have
frequented, the persons you nave conversed with; &c. &c. ;
in the doing of which the following table of sins will greatly
assist you.
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PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION. 85
SINS AGAINST GOD.
In Matters of Faith. — Have you been guilty of
heresy, or disbelief of any article of faith, or of voluntarily
doubting of any article of faith P — Have you rashly exposed
yourself to the danger of infidelity, by reading bad books,
keeping wicked company, going into places of worship
belonging to other communions during the time of their
service, and joining with them in their worship ? — Have
you, by word or deed, denied your faith, or railed at or
despised holy things P — Have you been ignorant of the
articles of your faith and the duties of your religion, or
have you been negligent in instructing, or procuring the
necessary instructions for those under your care? — Have
you given credit to dreams, taken notice of omens, or made
any other superstitious observations ? — Have you used
charms or spells, or consulted fortune-tellers, or made
use of any other superstitious practices to find out things
to come, recover things lost, &c. — How often? — and with
what scandal and ill example to others ?
Of Hope. — Have you despaired of salvation, or of the
forgiveness of your sins P — Have you rashly presumed
upon God’s goodness, continuing to offend him because
he is merciful; going on in your sins, without any thought
of amendment^ depending upon a death-bed repentance P —
Have you relied upon * yourself rather than upon divine
grace ; or neglected for a long time to return to God by
repentance, after falling into mortal sin P
Of Charity. — Have you loved any creature as much
or more than God? — Have you murmured against the
providence of God, resisted his inspirations, refused to
submit to his divine will, not prevented evil when you
could ancl ought, committed sins through human respect?
Of Religion. — Have you made a sacrilegious confes-
sion or communion ? — Have you received the sacraments
of confirmation or matrimony in the state of mortal sin ? —
Have you abused the holy scripture, or profaned holy
places or sacred things ? — Have you blasphemed God or his
saints P — Have you been negligent in the divine worship,
seldom or never adoring ana praising God, or giving him
thanks for his benefits r — Have you prayed but seldom, or
with little attention, or omitted to make acte of faith,
hope, and charity P — Have you behaved with irreverence
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86 PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION.
in the house of God, or broken any vow or solemn promise
made to him P — Have you neglected to hear mass on Sun-
days and holy-days of obligation ? — or have you heard it
with wilful distractions, or not taken care that your children
or servants should hear it?-— Have you neglected confes-
sion and communion at Easter, or omitted the penance
enjoined you, or acquitted yourself of these religious
duties carelessly ? — Have you sworn falsely, or what you
did not certainly know whether it was true or false? —
Have you broken your lawful oaths, or sworn to do any
thing that was wicked or unlawful? — Have you had a
custom of swearing rashly or inconsiderately, by the name
of God, by your soul, or by the way of imprecation upon
yourseli or others ? — Have you sworn by the blood or
wounds of God, or any other blasphemous oath, or been
accessary to others swearing, cursing, or blaspheming?—
Have you spent the Sundays or holy-days of obligation in
idleness or sin, or been the occasion of others so spending
them ? — Have you done any servile work without necessity
upon those days ? — Have you broken the days of abstinence,
or eaten more than one meal on fasting days, or been
accessary to others so doing ? — How often, &c.
8INS AGAINST OUR NEIGHBOUR.
In Thoughts. — Have you been deficient in point of cha-
rity towards your neighbour ? — Have you judged rashly of
him ? — Have you wilfully entertained thoughts of hatred,
aversion, rancour, or a coldness and resentment against
him ? — Have you, on this account, endeavoured to avoid
meeting or speaking to him ? — Have you envied him in his
merit, reputation, fortune or employments ? — Have you
conceived desires of revenge against him, and wished that
harm might befal him ? — Have you been hard-hearted, or
without any feeling or compassion for him in his affliction ?
— Have you felt in yourself a secret pleasure and satisfac-
tion when any disgrace happened to him, and discontent
in seeing him thrive and flourish ? [These sins may vary
in their malice, according to the length of time we were
thus affected, or the relation we stand in to the different
persons in question, or according to the greater or less im-
portance of the matter under our consideration.]
In Words. — Have you spoken harshly to your neigh-
bour— given him abusive language — railed at him — mis-
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PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION. 87
called him — mocked and ridiculed him — exposed him to
scorn — affronted him — censured his conduct — found fault
with every thing he did — put wrong constructions upon
his actions — calumniated or detracted him — been pleased
to hear others speak ill of him — listened to and encouraged
the calumny or detraction when you could prevent such
discourses ? [N.B. — The motive for speaking thus, the
number of persons present, and the subject of this un-
charitable language, must be specified, as we are bound
to repair the injury to the best of our power.] We also
sin by ill-natured reports or insinuations, malicious expres-
sions, whether true or false — by giving bad advice ana bad
example — by instilling bad or dangerous principles — by
flattering others, or approving of evil — by giving false
testimony — by discovering the secrets or the faults of
others— by abusive words, reproaches, bad wishes or im-
precations, &c.
In Actions. — Have you wronged, deceived, or cir-
cumvented your neighbour in buying or selling P — Have
you injured him by stealing, cheating, usury, extortion,
or any unlawful contract P — by putting off false monev, or
using false weights or measures ? — Have you bought or
received stolen goods P — Have you contracted debts without
design of paying them P We also sin by wronging our
creditors, or our own family, by prodigal expences — by
refusing to pay our just debts when able, or by culpable
extravagance rendering ourselves unable to pay them — by
neglecting the work or business for which we were hired,
and obliged by contract to perform ; in fine, by unjustly
taking or keeping any thing of value belonging to an-
other ; in which case it is impossible to obtain forgiveness
without making restitution to the best of our power. [And
here it is to be observed, that where two or more jointly
injure another, in goods or reputation, they are jointly and
severally obliged to restitution; that is to say, they are
bound to contribute their respective proportions towards
repairing the injury; and every individual of them is
answerable before God for the whole injury, when either
or any of the accomplices refuse to repair their portion
thereof.]
In Omissions. — Have you neglected to succour, com-
fort and assist your neighbour in necessity P — Have you
neglected to restore ill-gotten goods, or to repair injured
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88 PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION.
characters ? — Have you refused to be reconciled to an
enemy, or to perform duties of obligation, such as respect
and love towards parents, obedience to superiors, &c.
SINS AGAINST OURSELVES ARE COMMITTED
By Pride. — In having too great an esteem for ourselves,
and haughtily despising others ; in being too apt to speak
of our own affairs, or in our own praise ; in aspiring to
honours and preferment through vanity ; in affecting to
be humble, or in deceiving others by hypocrisy ; in being
influenced in what we do by human respects, for obtaining
the applause and esteem of men ; in being too much wedded
to our own opinions and inclinations ; in being too solicitous
about our health ; in being too fond of the pleasures, com-
forts, and conveniencies of life.
By Avarice. — In being backward in giving alms ac-
cording to our ability; in squandering away in gaining,
or in vain and foolish expences, the substance that Provi-
dence hath given for the relief of the poor and distressed ;
in not only refusing them an alms which we can afford,
but in refusing it with bitterness, reproaches, imperious,
ill-natured language, or with an insulting air ; in being
too much attached to the goods of this life ; where it must
be ever remembered, that whatever is really superfluous to
us belongs of right to the poor; that where there is much,
much should be given ; ana that where there is only a little,
even some of that little should be cheerfully given; for
u God loves the cheerful giver”
By Envy. — In being sorry for the prosperity of others —
rejoicing at their misfortunes — in wishing with jealousy
for what belongs to them.
By Impurity. — In wilfully dwelling upon, or taking
pleasure in unchaste thoughts. [N. B. — The penitent must
nere mention whether these bad thoughts were entertained
during a considerable time, and how long ; whether they
were accompanied with desires of committing the evil ;
whether they caused irregular motions ; whether in a holy
Slace ; and, finally, whether the objects of these sinful
esires were single or married, kinared or relations, or
persons consecrated to God.]
By Words. — In speaking obscenely, or with a double
meaning, which is as bad, if not worse ; in listening with
pleasure to such vile language. [N. B. — This sort of dig-
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PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION. 89
course is still more criminal, when it passes between two
persons of a different sex. We also sin grievously this way,
by singing unchaste songs, by giving toasts and sentiments
contrary to modesty, or by permitting them to be given when
we can prevent them, or by not retiring on such occasions.]
By Looks. — In viewing immodest objects ; in reading
bad books ; in keeping indecent pictures ; in frequenting
plays and public assemblies, which are but too often the
schools of vice, where dangerous objects are held up to
view, and where vice is represented, not in its native hor-
rible colours or consequences, but as mere gaity. Comedies
also are so full of indecent sentiments and indelicate allu-
sions, as cannot but offend a modest ear, and have an im-
moral tendency. They are not only powerful incentives to
this vice, but are besides evidently unlawful, for the follow-
ing reason : viz. because we cannot assist at them without
contributing, by our purse and our example, to maintain a
set of people in a profession, or way of life, which was
always deemed infamous by the Catholic Church. Under
this head likewise may be classed, the tempting of others
to sin, by dissolute glances, gestures, or immodesty in
dress or behaviour.
By Actions. — In abusing and defiling the sanctity of
marriage by such liberties ana irregularities as are contrary
to the order of nature ; in touching ourselves or others im-
modestly ; in permitting indecent liberties to be taken with
us. [N.B. — it is necessary to explain every thing, in
order to make known such circumstances as may increase
or diminish the guilt, with as much modesty as possible ;
and also to declare, whether we have employed, or ne-
glected to employ the necessary means of overcoming this
vile passion. \Ve should carefully distinguish what is wilful,
from what is not ; an effect of deliberation, from one of mere
negligence ; also the number of these bad actions, or at
least the length of time we continued in the habit of com-
mitting them ; with what sort of persons we have sinned, or
desired to sin, but this without mentioning their names.
And as it too often happens with young persons, who have
miserably fallen into a certain sin of a lonely and abomi-
nable nature, either to conceal this crime, or not faithfully
confess how often they have been guilty of it, we therefore
earnestly beseech such to reflect seriously on the fatal evils
in which they involve themselves. Let them consider, that
h 2
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90 PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION.
all those confessions, and the communions which follow
them, are only so many sacrileges, removing them still
farther from God, and provoking his just indignation against
them ; that the longer they continue in this state of Hypo-
crisy, the more difficult it must be to overcome their bash-
fulness, and the more anguish they must feel in their own
interior ; that no practice is more destructive of health,
beauty, or genius, than this ; that it deforms and debili-
tates the wretched perpetrator ; that it must, not only in a
moral, but also in a physical sense, degrade him beneath
the rank of the brute creation, and render him contempti-
ble to mankind.]
By Gluttony. — In exceeding the bounds prescribed
by temperance ; in eating or drinking to excess ; in ex-
citing others to do so ; in not observing with due exactness
the days of fasting and abstinence enjoined by the church ;
in exceeding the quantity which is usually allowed at
collation.
By Anger. — In abusing, quarrelling, striking, or wish-
ing evil to others ; in provoking others to quarrel or fight.
"Which sins are still more heinous when parents or superiors
are the objects thereof.
By Sloth. — In neglecting our religious or moral duties ;
in performing them carelessly ; in leading a life of idleness,
voluptuousness, and dissipation ; in passing our time un-
profitable when the duties of our state call on us to la-
bour. "We are also guilty by following the bent of our
inclinations, and gratifying self-love — by studying too much
our own ease — by too great a remissness in mortifying our
passions or senses.
AFTER THE EXAMINATION.
Haying discovered the different sorts of sins of which
you have been guilty, together with their number, enor-
mity, or such aggravating circumstances as may consider-
ably increase their malice or change their nature, your
next endeavour should be to excite in your breast a heart-
felt sorrow for having committed them, and a sincere de-
testation of them. This being the most essential, as well
as the most difficult, of all the dispositions requisite to a
good confession, with what humility, fervour, and perse-
verance should you not importune Him who holas the
hearts of men in his hands, to grant it you !
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PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION. 91
In the mean time, seriously meditate on those powerful
motives for exciting contrition, which the church holds
forth to her children ; and in order to feel their force the
more effectually, endeavour to enliven your faith, to
strengthen your hope, and inflame your charity, by devoutly
reciting the acts of the three theological virtues {page 9ft). 3 £>
In the next place reflect on those motives which are most
capable of alarming, and at the same time of melting your
heart into compunction ; such as the everlasting torments
of hell ; the eternal loss of God, and of the joys of heaven,;
the horror and filthiness of sin ; the goodness of God in
all he has done, and all he still does, and all he will do
for us, if we continue to love and serve him ; particularly
that astonishing instance of his love and undeserved mercy,
in forbearing to cut your slender thread of life, and to
precipitate you into eternal torments in the very height
of your rebellion against him. This consideration alone
must necessarily engage you to cry out with ecstatic sur-
prise and astonishment, u How good must God be in him-
self who has been so good to me , his faithless and un-
grateful child !” He saw nothing in you deserving of his
mercy ; he saw every thing in you that merited his wrath
and indignation.
This last reflection on the infinite goodness of God, if
dwelt on with due attention, cannot tail to inflame your
heart with an unfeigned love of Him for his own sake, the
purest and best of all motives . Whilst the heart is thus
softened by divine love into compunction for your sins,
form an unshaken resolution of never more offending him,
of doing your utmost to amend your life, of satisfying for
your sins, and of repairing any injury you may have done
your neighbour, either in his character or property.
If, with these sentiments glowing in your breast, you
cast yourself at the feet of your confessor and reveal to
him all the sins you can recollect^ with tears of compunc-
tion, and in a truly penitential spirit, be assured you shall
return with joy from the tribunal of confession, and feel
realized in yourself the consoling promise of the Holy
Spirit, that u They who sow in tears , shall reap in joy,"
Psalm cxxv.
AT THE CONFESSION.
Begin by devoutly making the sign of the cross,
saying at the same time, Bless me , O Father, for I have
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92 PRAYERS BEFORE CONFESSION.
sinned ’. Then repeat the Confiteor , or “ I confess to the
Almighty,” &c. till you come to the words, u through my
fault , at which strike your breast, glowing with com-
punction, like the humble publican in the gospel ; and so
proceed to accuse yourself with candour and sincerity,
telling first how long it is since you were last at confession,
whether you were then absolved, (a circumstance of the
utmost importance, which many are too negligent in at-
tending to,) and whether you performed your penance.
Having confessed all the sins you can remember, listen
with docility to your confessor, whilst he endeavours to
excite you to contrition, and prescribes the various means,
either of atoning for the sins you have confessed, or of
preventing future relapses.
PRAYERS BEFORE CONFESSION.
We are taught by the holy Council of Trent, that those
who would obtain the grace of justification, should be
thus disposed : they must have faith ; they must fear
the justice of God ; they must hope for mercy, through
Jesus Christ our Lord ; they must begin to love God;
they must hate sin ; they must sincerely resolve to change
their lives, and keep the commandments. To infuse «
these necessary dispositions into the soul of the penitent,
is the intent of the following prayers :
I am fully sensible, O my God, that there
cannot he a greater misfortune than to have
displeased thee, who art infinitely good and
worthy of all our affections. I tremble when I
consider how terrible a misfortune it is to fall
unprepared into thy hands ; for who can bear
that dreadful sentence: Depart from me, ye
accursed, into eternal fire ! — Matt. xxv. But
the thought of losing thee, O Lord, alarms me
still more than any other punishment whatso-
ever. Thy patience in waiting for me, thy
readiness to pardon me, the multitude of thy
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PRAYERS BEFORE CONFESSION. 93
mercies, which I have so often experienced,
are now present to my mind ; they upbraid me
most forcibly. Thou hast brought me forth
from nothing, created me to thine own image
and likeness, ransomed me with thy precious
blood, and after I had rebelled and become a
slave to Satan, thou didst still hear with me,
adopt me as thy child, and prefer me to thou-
sands who were never enlightened by thy holy
law. Yet I have deserted thee, I have tired
myself in the ways of iniquity, I have hated
thy discipline, I have turned my back on all
thy commandments. Though thou hast called
me, yet have I refused to return ; though thou
hast frequently stretched out thy hands to me,
yet I have paid no regard to thy invitations.
Wretch that I am ! who shall deliver me from
this body of death ? Who shall give water to
my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes, that
day and night I may weep for my ingratitude ?
I have sinned ! what shall I do to appease
thee ? O Guardian of men ! behold I acknow-
ledge my iniquity. My transgressions are be-
come a heavy burden upon me. I am not
worthy to appear before thee, nor even to lift
up my eyes before thy throne. From the depth
of my misery I cry out to thee : O Lord, hear
my voice, and be merciful to a poor sinner !
Thy mercies surpass all thy works ; thou wili-
est not my death but my conversion ; nor didst
thou come to call the just, but sinners to re-
pentance. Thou art always mindful of thy
word, on which I rely : receive thy prodigal
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PBAYEBS BEFOBE CONFESSION.
child, nor let me henceforth he ever separated
from thee.
Though I have sinned, O Lord, and done
evil in thy sight, yet I shall never say, as Cain
did, that “ my crimes are too great to be
forgiven.” I know that in mercy thou dost
display thy power; and that though my sins
were multiplied in number even beyond the
grains of sand in the sea, atoms in the air, or
drops of water in the ocean, yet thy mercies
are still infinitely greater. Without this con-
sideration I should certainly despair. But thine
own repeated assurances, and the frequent
proofs thou hast given of thy tenderness towards
sinners, support my confidence in thee whenever
my enemy attempts to weaken it. Thou art
truth itself ; and therefore thy word can never
deceive us. Thou hast declared that thou wilt
entirely forget the iniquities of the* sinner, if he
be truly converted, and cease to do evil ; thou
hast told us, that a contrite and humble heart
shall always find favour with thee. Thy sacred
oracles are full of these sweet consolations, and
thy invariable conduct towards sinners speaks
the same soothing language. Thou didst par-
don David, though his sin was most grievous ;
Magdalen, a sinner by profession ; Peter, who
denied thee with oaths ; the adultress, convicted
in thy presence ; the penitent thief on the cross :
all these obtained forgiveness, because they
sought it sincerely. Nay more, thy tenderness
was shown even to the traitor Judas ; nor were
even the cruel Jews excluded from thy prayers :
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PRAYERS BEFORE CONFESSION. 95
and shall I not also, O my God, cry out to
thee for mercy? Yes; for relying on thy
wonted goodness, I shall never he confounded.
My sins are enormous, it is true, and stand
always against me ; but the more hideous they
are, the more I detest them. Against thee,
0 God, have I sinned ; and to thee I cry out
for pardon. O that I had never offended thee,
because thou art infinitely good. O that my
sorrow for having offended thee were as great
as my offences. O that I might grieve for them
even unto death, and feel those hitter pangs
with which thy soul was overwhelmed in the
Garden of Olives. Let the inexpressible anguish
of mind thou didst there feel, thy sighs, thy
tears, thy fainting, and thy bloody sweat, O
Lord ! plead now in my behalf, and supply the
defects of my imperfect sorrow. Let them draw
down thy mercies, O heavenly Father, and
restore me again to thy favour.
I have now before me, O Lord, a sad pros-
pect of the manifold offences by which I have
displeased thy divine Majesty, and which I am
assured will appear in judgment against me, if
1 repent not, and my soul be not disposed by a
hearty sorrow, to receive thy pardon. But
this sorrow, O Lord, this repentance, must be
thy free gift ; and if it come not from the hand
of thy mercy, all my endeavours will be in
vain, and I shall be for ever miserable. Have
mercy therefore on me, O Father of Mercies !
and pour forth into my heart thy grace, where-
by I may sincerely repent of all my sins. Give
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96 PRAYERS BEFORE CONFESSION.
me a true contrition, that I may bewail my
past miseries and ingratitude, and grieve from
the bottom of my heart for having offended so
good a God. Permit me not to be deluded with
a false sorrow, as, I fear, I have been too often,
through my own weakness and neglect ; but
let it be now thy gift, descending from thee, the
Father of Lights, that so my repentance may
be accompanied with amendment and a change
of life, that I may be folly acquitted from the
guilt of all my sins, and once more received
into the number of thy servants s through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thou hast, O Lord, given power to thy
church to forgive sins in thy name. Thou hast
promised pardon to those who do penance.
Behold the prodigal child ; nay, worse than
the prodigal. I have disfigured and defiled my
soul, that was created to thy own image and
likeness. I have forfeited my title to that eter-
nity of happiness which was prepared for me.
I have nourished sin in my bosom, the most
poisonous of serpents, and the most hateful of
monsters. Alas ! I have offended him by whose
blood I was redeemed. I have been the cause
of his sufferings ; I have renewed his death,
and crucified him again by my sins. Oh! who
will give sorrow to my heart, and a fountain of
tears to mine eyes, that I may bewail my ini-
quities in the bitterness of my soul. Have
compassion on me, O most loving Father ! I
throw myself into the arms of thy infinite
mercy. Clothe me with thy grace, and admit
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PRAYERS BEFORE CONFESSION. 9T
me to thy sacrament of reconciliation. Cast
out of my heart whatever thou knowest profanes,
or defiles thy temple. Root out of my soul what-
ever is displeasing unto thee, and lay in me the
foundation of a new life. I renounce and utterly
detest all my sins, for the love of thee. O my
God of infinite bounty and goodness ! I am
heartily sorry for having offended thee. I beg
and hope for pardon, through the merits of
thine only Son, my Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Accept his passion and death in satisfaction
for my offences, and for his sake have mercy
on me, who place my whole trust and con-
fidence in thee. Amen.
A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
O holy Virgin, Mother of God, and sure
refuge of penitent sinners, intercede for me at
this moment, that the confession which I am
about to make may not render me more guilty,
but may obtain for me the remission of all my
sins, and the necessary graces to avoid them
hereafter. Amen.
A PRAYER AT RECEIVING ABSOLUTION.
O MERCIFUL God, as at the words of thy
angel, St. Peter was immediately restored to
liberty, by the chains falling off from his feet ;
so grant, dear Lord, that by the words of this
holy sacrament, pronounced by thy priest, the
chains of my sins may be loosed, and all my
offences pardoned. Amen.
J esus. Son of David, have mercy on me. O
i
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98 PBAYEBS AFTER CONFESSION.
God, be merciful to me a sinner. O Thou who
suffered for me, have mercy on me. Sprinkle
me with thy blood, O Jesus, and I shall be
made whiter -than snow.
PRAYERS AFTER CONFESSION.
Is it possible, O my God, that having been
a criminal but a few moments ago, I should
now be cleansed from my sins by virtue of
this sacrament? Yes, I firmly believe it ; be-
cause thou hast left to thy church the power of
forgiving sins, and hast inclined my heart to
comply with the necessary conditions for obtain-
ing pardon. Thou hast declared to thy apostles,
that “ whatever they should loose on earth,
should be loosed also in heaven ; and that
whosesoever sins they should forgive, should be
forgiven.” This is the sacred warrant of their
tribunal, whose authority thy faithful have ever
acknowledged. Here are the keys of thy hea-
venly kingdom, solemnly made over to thy
church in our favour : we are therefore obliged
to have recourse to them. This power was not
confined to the apostles, no more than the power
of baptising nations ; but being granted in as
general terms, doth in like manner, extend to
their successors. I give thee thanks, O my
God, for this tender proof of thy love, and invite
all creatures to glorify thee for it. Thou hast
invested a power in the sons of men, which thou
wouldst not confer on angels or archangels ;
whatever ye shall bind on earthy <$•<?. was not
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PRAYERS AFTER CONFESSION.
09
addressed to them. “ The princes of this world
have dominion only over the body, hut the
power of the priest affects the very soul. The
eternal Father hath given all power to his Son;
but then I behold this very power delivered by
the Son to mortals. The Jewish priests could
only pronounce those clean whose bodies had
been already cleansed from the leprosy ; but
to our priests it was given, not merely to pro-
nounce clean , but really to cleansey not the
infections of the body, but the very stains of the
soul.” — [St. Chrys. b. iii. of the JPriesthood.]
“ Thus thy manifold mercy hath provided
succour for human frailty ; that as by baptism,
so also by penance, the hope of life should be
renewed; for Christ Jesus, our Mediator,
authorized the rulers of his church to impose
penance upon persons confessing, and to admit
them, thus purified by wholesome satisfaction,
to share in the sacraments.” — [St. Leo. ep. 23.]
This is an effect of that precious blood which
thou, O amiable Redeemer, hast shed for my
sake : I acknowledge the wonders of thy love
in accepting this poor satisfaction, in pardoning
all, in forgetting all, instead of punishing me
as I deserved. It is necessary to be what thou
art, a God of infinite goodness, to deal in
such a compassionate manner with so miser-
able a sinner: and therefore, I humbly beseech
thee to imprint on my heart a just sense of this
favour, that I may gratefully remember it all
the days of my life, and extol without ceasing
the multitude of thy mercies. Amen.
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100 PRAYERS AFTER CONFESSION.
O most sweet Lord Jesus! graciously vouch-
safe to remember all those holy thoughts that
have passed in thy divine mind from the begin-
ning of the world to this very moment, and
particularly thy tender design in becoming man
for the redemption of the world : pardon, through
the merits of these, not only all the evil thoughts
and vain imaginations I have ever conceived
of myself, but also those I might have excited
in the minds of others. Amen.
O most pious Lord Jesus ! I, a poor sinner,
do humbly remind thee of all those words of
salvation which have ever fallen from thy
sacred lips, or which others have uttered, or
shall hereafter utter, to the glory of thy holy
name. I earnestly beseech thee, through these
divine expressions, to forgive whatever I have
spoken offensive to thee, or what others, through
my means, may have sinfully uttered. Amen.
O most amiable Lord Jesus Christ ! look on
all the good works thou has performed for our
salvation ; and be pleased now to pardon what-
ever I have committed against thee. Merci-
fully direct all my thoughts, words, and actions,
to thy greater glory, and regulate them by the
model of thine own blessed life. Amen.
O Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, who
invitest the sinner to return to thee, kindly
receiving, refreshing, and consoling him, re-
member that with thy precious blood thou wert
pleased to redeem me. To thy sacred wounds
I fly for refuge ; and as in thy mercy thou
didst pray for thine enemies, and pour forth
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PRATERS AFTER CONFESSION. 101
thy life for thy persecutors and tormentors, so
impart here to me the benefit of thy passion;
Grant I may never again crucify thee by mine
offences, but that sincerely grieving for what is
past, and resolutely striving against future
temptations, I may fervently persevere in thy
service to the end.
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my
whole being. O Jesus, Son of David, have
mercy on me.
Receive, O Lord, in thy great mercy, the
poor remains of my life. I am heartily sorry
for the years I have mispent; they have
vanished as a shadow, they have passed away
without fruit ; but as I cannot recal them, suffer
me at least to think of them in the bitterness
of my soul. Suffer me no longer to yield to my
accustomed failings. Let the ardour with
which I pursued a life of sin, be henceforth
more diligently applied to thy service, that
where sin hath abounded, thy grace may still
more abound. Remember, O Lord Jesus ! that
it is not thy desire to lose any of those whom thy
Father hath given thee, but rather to have
mercy always, and to spare $ to destroy no one,
but to save all; because thy Father hath sent
thee into the world, not to judge the world, but
to grant us life through thee. May, therefore,
0 Lord, thy boundless merits plead for me now,
and at my last moments, that I may obtain the
full remission of my sins ; that I may truly
know thee ; that I may ever love thee ; that
1 may tend to thee incessantly ; and at length
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102 PRAYERS AFTER CONFESSION.
arrive to the eternal enjoyment of thee, who,
with the Father and tne Holy Ghost, livest
and reignest, &c. Amen.
I sincerely detest all my sins, and am fully
resolved, O Lord, through the assistance of thy
divine grace, never to offend thee hereafter. I
therefore earnestly beseech thee to confirm all
those good resolutions I have made. Increase
my fervour in thy service, and render it effi-
cacious, that my change of life may he visible
to all, and that in future my conduct may he
as edifying as it has been heretofore scandalous.
Amen.
O that I had never sinned ! O that I had
never transgressed thy commands, my God!
Happy those souls who have preserved their
innocence, and never lost that grace they
received at the baptismal font! Most loving
Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before thee, and am not worthy to he called thy
child. I confess my ingratitude, and seek refuge
in thy mercy. I have wandered like a sheep
that is gone astray; but have compassion on
me, and save me. Forgive me what is past;
and through the bowels of thy infinite good-
ness, grant me a true steadiness of spirit, that
from this moment I may never offend thee
more.
O blessed Virgin Mary, my holy patron,
[name him or Aer,] and all ye Saints and Angels,
praise and extol our Lord for his boundless
goodness towards me a most miserable sinner.
Beseech him to accept of this my humble con-
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 103
fession, and to supply, through his infinite
mercies, all its deficiencies. Beg of him to ra-
tify in the archives of heaven, the sentence of
absolution which his minister, the priest, hath
pronounced in my favour at the tribunal of
confession. Amen.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMUNION.
As there is no religious duty of greater consequence, or
more conducive to our happiness both here and hereafter,
than to receive worthily the blessed Eucharist ; so there
can be no greater favour conferred on a Christian, than to
communicate early in life, and afterwards frequently.
Hence it becomes the indispensable duty of such as have
the education of children committed to their care, not only
%o impress on their tender minds a lively and active sense
of the excellency of this sacrament^ but also to enforce
the necessity of frequently receiving it. u He that eateth
this bread shall live for ever.” — John , vi. The obligation
of communicating at Easter is binding on every member
of the church who has arrived at the age of discretion ;
*. e. when reason and reflection, guided by the gift of
divine faith, arrive at such a state of maturity ? as may
enable them to distinguish the flesh of J esus Christ, under
the exterior appearance of bread and wine, from the
ordinary food of the body. It is further to be observed,
that as purity of heart is the most proper disposition to
receive worthily; so, of consequence, tne less advanced
the age of a Christian, the more untainted, in general, is
his baptismal innocence. But, on the other hand, it is to
be remarked, that the longer a Christian defers his first
communion, the greater is the danger that either domestic
affairs, or the violence of those passions to which young
persons in general are more or less subject, should cause
nim to put it off to a more advanced age, or perhaps to
the very hour of death! — a fatal delusion , which has
betrayed numbers of Christians into the abyss of eternal
perdition. Let parents, therefore, and others concerned
m the education of children, attend to the advice of
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104 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMUNION.
the great St. Charles Borromeus on this subject : 11 When
children,” says he, u of both sexes, arrive at the age of
ten years, provided they are capable of being easily prepared
for communion, suffer them not, under pretence of igno-
rance, (as it is often the case,) to defer it any longer ; but
rather let them be prepared in good time, to participate
of a sacrament which abounds with such precious and
inestimable advantages.”
With respect to frequent communion, the best advice
is to follow the counsel of a wise and prudent director.
But remember, that according to the spirit of J esus Christ
and his church, you should communicate frequently.
Our divine Redeemer gives himself to us in the olessed
Eucharist under the forms of bread and wine, hereby
intimating, that as our corporal life cannot be supported
without the ordinary food of the body, so our spiritual life
cannot be maintained but by the blessed Eucharist, which
is the food and nourishment of our souls. Hence it is
that he assumes the most tender and affectionate titles of
spouse, brother, friend, &c. in order to incite us to approach
him frequently in this divine sacrament.
The spirit of the church is further made known by the
advice of the holy Council of Trent, which exhorts all the
faithful to communicate often, and particularly whilst they
assist at the celebration of the divine mysteries. To those
testimonies may be added the exhortations of the holy
fathers, the example of the saints, the practice of the
primitive Christians, and the experience of all pious and
devout persons in every age, as so many corroborating
proofs of the happiness and advantage of frequent com-
munion.
But if it be a happiness to communicate early in life,
and frequently during the course thereof, it may be also
said that there cannot be a greater misfortune than to
. communicate unworthily ; it being a most flagrant abuse of
what is most sacred in religion. To avoid then so great an
evil, reflect seriously on these words of St. Paul : “ Let a
man prove himself \ and so eat of that bread, and drink of
that chalice ; for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily ,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning
the body of the Lord.” Now this proving consists in
putting yourself into such a state, tnat vour conscience
may not reproach you with any essential obstacle to the
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 105
receiving of this sacrament, that is, with the conscious
guilt of any mortal sin whatever. This you can answer
for, provided you have endeavoured to make as exact, as
fervent, and as perfect a confession as you would wish to
make at the hour of death ; and you should certainly be
equally careful and fervent in so doing, there being not
less purity required to receive Jesus Christ in this life,
than to appear before the judgment-seat of God in the
next.
Above all things it must be remembered, that the essen-
tial point in this proving of yourself, is, “ to quit the
occasions of sin, and to repair the scandal it hath caused:”
without a fixed determination of so doing, the accusation
and detestation of it are absolutely insufficient.
But this purity of conscience, which exempts from
mortal sin, and every criminal attachment, though it may
prevent the communion from being sacrilegious, yet it is
not sufficient to render it so fruitful and advantagebus as
it should be. Wherefore, the more you prepare yourself
for this sacrament, the greater abundance of grace you
will require. In order, then, to prevent the mistake of
such as do not think it necessary to prepare for receiving
this holy sacrament before the very day of communion,
the following pious practices are earnestly recommended :
I. Some days before communion perform all your actions
and prayers, in order to obtain the graces necessary for so
important a duty. Offer them up in the morning with this
intention, and do some good work, such as an alms, an act
of mortification, or a fast, with the same design.
II. Visit our Lord in the blessed sacrament morning
and evening, to beg that he would himself by his grace
dispose your heart to receive him worthily.
III. Bead every day a chapter out of the 4th Book of
the Imitation of Christ, or some other approved book that
treats of the Eucharist.
IV. On the eve of your communion be more recollected
than usual: think often upon the happiness you are to
enjoy the ensuing 'day in receiving your God. As this
should be your last thought at composing yourself to rest,
so it should also be your first at awaking.
V. Represent to your imagination that your angel guar-
dian addresses you in these words : u Behold the spouse
oometh : go forth now and meet him.” Arise as early as
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106 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMUNION.
possible to receive the great guest, who designs to honour
you with this visit. Keep a profound silence till you return
from mass ; and let it appear by your modesty and recol-
lection, that you are deeply penetrated with the conscious-
ness of the sanctity of an action of the most ineffable
dignity and excellence.
VI. Whenever you go to communion have always in
your mind some particular intention — such as the acquir-
ing of some virtue; overcoming such a temptation; the
knowing of God’s will with regard to yourself ; the relief
of the souls of the faithful departed ; the conversion of
infidels, heretics, and of sinners in general; for nothing
is more capable of exciting fervour in devotion, than some
particular end to which it is referred.
A PRAYER TO THE BLE8SED VIRGIN.
O sacred Mother of God, pure and spotless
Virgin ! thou didst not bear the Saviour of the
world in thy sacred womb for thine own sake
alone, hut for ours also. May not I then, O
Mother of mercy, hope to partake of his merits,
and obtain, through thy powerful intercession,
some share of the same holy dispositions of soul
which thou thyself didst possess at the time
thou didst conceive him. O that the same divine
Spirit which then prepared thy body and soul
for his reception, would now shed his precious
gifts on me, since it is the same God-Man that
I am also about to receive. Obtain for me
a pure heart for his dwelling-place, and a firm
and constant resolution to support myself in his
grace ; but above all, inspire me with an in-
finite horror of the detestable sin of impurity,
which, in a particular manner, contaminates-
the soul of man, and renders it unworthy of
communicating ; because, by dishonouring my
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PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION. 107
flesh, I dishonour the flesh of Jesus Christ also.
Alas! if thy immaculate virginal womb was
not too pure for a God to become incarnate
therein, how can I presume to present myself
at the table of the God of purity, and receive
him into a heart contaminated with the smallest
stain of a vice so abominable in the sight of
infinite purity and sanctity ?
PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION.
I firmly believe, O my divine Jesus, that
thou art really present in the blessed sacrament
of the altar. I believe that it contains thy body
and blood, accompanied by thy very soul and
divinity. I acknowledge these truths ; I believe
these wonders ; I adore the power that has
wrought them, the same power that said s u Let
there be light, and light was made.” I submit
my senses and reason to thy divine authority.
I praise and glorify thy infinite goodness,
which hath prepared this heavenly banquet for
the food and nourishment of my soul. Blessed
be ^hy name for ever. Accept my homage ;
accept, O my God, my most hearty thanks.
But what am I, that thou shouldst work such •
wonders for my sake ? How shall such a
filthy sinner as I am, presume to approach
thee, who art the inexhaustible source of infinite
purity and sanctity ? How shall I venture to
lift up my eyes to heaven, much less to receive
thee within my breast ? I tremble at the sen-
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108 PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION.
tence of thy apostle : “ Whosoever shall eat
this bread or drink this cup of the Lord un-
worthily, shall he guilty of the body and
blood of the Lord [1 Cor. ii.] for I acknow-
ledge myself to be nothing but dust and
ashes ; a poor, miserable worm of the earth,
subject to many vices, and void of all virtue
and merit. Alas ! my life has been nothing
but sin and misery. I have nothing to confide
in but thy boundless mercy ; nor should I ever
presume to approach thy sacred table, and
partake of the bread of angels, were I not
encouraged by thy infinite goodness, and ex-
cited by thy own most pressing invitations. It
is therefore in thy mercy, which is above all
thy works, that I put my whole trust ; and
since thou art pleased to call me to this divine
banquet, behold I come to it, like Magdalen,
to be happily united to thee, and to lay down
all my sins at thy feet, to be cancelled by thy
precious blood. I come to commemorate thy
sufferings, as thou thyself hast ordained. I
come, as one sick, to the Physician of Life ;
as one blind, to the Light of eternal Glory ; as
one poor, needy, and distressed, to the King
of heaven and earth. To thee I expose all my
* wounds, that they may be healed. To thee I
fly for protection, hoping that thou wilt be to
me a Saviour, and that thou wilt wash away
every sin that may defile me. Remove my
blindness, relieve my necessities, and clothe me
with grace, that I may receive the adorable
sacrament of thy body and blood with such
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PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION. 109
reverence and humility, such contrition and
devotion, such purity and faith, as may he for
thy honour and glory, and the salvation of my
soul. I am not worthy, O Lord, to receive thee ;
alas, I am not ! but thou canst, if thou wilt,
make me worthy : say hut the word, then, and
my soul shall he healed. Thou hast heretofore
said to the leper in the gospel, “ I am willing ;
he thou healed and he was immediately cured
of his disease. My soul is covered with an
universal leprosy : heal me then, O my Saviour,
in like manner ; cleanse my soul from its stains ;
remove from it all guilt ; extinguish in it every
evil disposition ; adorn it with the necessary
virtues, and make it a fit abode for thy re-
ception. May the body of our Lord J esus Christ
preserve my soul to life everlasting.
ANOTHER PRAYER.
Who is he whom thou art about to receive?
O my soul, he still and attentive. Who is he
thou art going to receive ? Thy God ! thy
Redeemer ! who, for love of thee, shed tor-
rents of blood during his agony in the garden
of Gethsemani ! who for love of thee, suffered
his sacred head to he pierced with a crown of
thorns, and his virginal flesh to he rent and
torn at the pillar with whips and scourges !
who, for love of thee, suffered himself to he
clothed in a purple garment, and derided as a
mock king, with a reed for his sceptre ! who,
for love of thee, suffered his sacred hands and
feet to he fastened with gross nails to the wood
K
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110 PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION.
of the cross ! in fine, who, for love of thee, hung
thereon, in the most ignominious manner,
between two thieves, suffering for the space
of three hours the most excruciating pains
and tortures ! and at last expired for thy re-
demption ! After such stupendous instances
of thy love for man, who can refuse a return
of love to thee, Lord J esus ? I love thee, O
my God! and ardently wish, that as every
breath I draw is an increase of my life, so it
may be of my love for thee, till at last I love
thee as thou thyself requirest, “ with my whole
heart, with my whole soul, with all my mind,
and with all my strength;” for thou art the
God of my heart, and the life of my soul;
thou art my treasure, my joy, my comfort, my
support, my strength, my armour, my defence,
my only hope and comfort in this place of
banishment and vale of tears, and the supreme
object of my happiness in heaven.
As the wearied stag pants after the fountains
of water, so does my soul languish after thee,
the ocean of all sweetness ; it thirsts after thee
with the most vehement desire, and longs to
drink plentifully of those fountains which issue
from the inexhaustible source of thy infinite
goodness for my comfort and refreshment. O
sweet Jesus ! permit me now to experience the
multitude of thy tender mercies. Have com-
passion on me and save me, for thou never for-
sakest such as place their hope in thee. Purify
my heart with the fire of divine love, that it
may this day become a fit abode for thy
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ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION.
Ill
reception ; O come, and make it thy dwelling-
place for ever. I am sorry, and will be sorry
as long as I live, for having ever offended thy
infinite goodness ; forgive me, dear Lord, my
past trespasses, and be thou my keeper for the
time to come, that I may never more offend thee.
Hail, saving victim, who for me and all
mankind was offered on the cross ! Hail,
precious blood flowing from the wounds of my
crucified Lord, and washing away the sins
of the world ! As I now desire to receive thee,
veiled in this sacrament, so I hope hereafter to
behold thee, face to face, in the kingdom of
heaven.
O all ye blessed Angels and Saints of God, I
humbly beg the assistance of your prayers and
intercession, that I may with a clean heart
and a pure conscience, approach the Holy of
Holies, and receive this divine sacrament with
such reverence and humility as may be for my
soul's salvation.
ACTS OF VIRTUE,
Which may be used with great spiritual advantage before
Communion , according to each person's leisure and
devotion .
Imagine that oar Saviour invites yon into the same
room in which he ate his last supper with his apostles,
to be witness of the miracle he is there going to perform,
and to give you the communion with his own sacred hands.
How fervent soever your sentiments might have been on
that solemn occasion, they ought not to be less so at
present : for as he ordained that this divine food should be
daily renewed for the nourishment of the faithful, till his
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ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION.
second coming to judge mankind at the end of the world,
so he gives himself no less to us at present, than he did at
that time to his apostles. Take them now for your model.
The account which we have in the gospel, of this last
mysterious supper, will furnish you with proper acts for
communion. Read them attentively; make them your
own by reflection; and let them sink deeply into your
heart.
AN ACT OF ADORATION.
The Gospel of St Luke, chap, xxii., informs us, that
our Saviour sat down, ana his twelve apostles with
him, to eat the Paschal Lamb, or accomplish the Sup*
per of the Old Law, and institute that of the New in
its stead. Who could be otherwise than astonished at
seeing a God admit his creatures, nay, even his very
enemies, to partake of his adorable body P “ When he
loved his own who were in the world,” says his beloved
disciple, St. John, i( 1 he loved them unto the end.”
But this was loving them, not merely to the end of this
mortal life, but even beyond it, to the very end of ages
with the utmost excess, and to the farthest limits of love.
Contemplate, therefore, with the most attentive recol-
lection, the excellence, the depth, and the extent of
the boundless love of our divine Redeemer, of which
this mystery is an epitome.
Could we ever believe, O Lord, or even
imagine, that thy love for us was so excessive,
had not thine own infallible word convinced
us of its truth ? Hadst thou, when thou wert
about to quit this world, left us thy adorable
heart as a pledge of thy affection ; or hadst
thou, when thy side was pierced, ordered thy
precious blood to be distributed throughout thy
church ; such favours would have justly claimed
our most grateful acknowledgments. But this
would not satisfy the extent of thy love ; thou
didst choose, in a god-like maimer, to penetrate
into the very centre of our hearts, and give
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thyself to each of us particularly, entirely, and
for ever. With what amazement, then, must
not the angels and the whole hierarchy of
celestial intelligences, have beheld such a pro-
digy ! Were they not in some measure jealous
to see mankind thus uncommonly favoured?
But what didst thou discover in me, O Lord,
that could thus attract thee ? Or what couldst
thou possibly expect from my indigence ? Can
I become the dwelling-place of him who is the
delight of the blessed ? Alas ! had I even the
innocence of thy beloved disciple J ohn, or the
ardent love of thy zealous apostle St Peter, I
should then have some little claim to sit down
at thy table ; but since I am removed at so
great a distance from such holy dispositions,
vouchsafe, O Lord, to supply my deficiency by
the effusion of thy grace. Whence is this favour
to me, O my merciful Redeemer ? “ What is
man, that thou art mindful of him ? or the son
of man, that thou shouldst visit him P” Ps. viii.
AN ACT OF DESIRE,
Founded on these tender words, which our Saviour pro-
nounced immediately before the Supper : “With desire
I have desired to eat this Pasch with you.” — Luke ,
xxii. 16. For why should we not feel the most ardent
desire to be united to our Lord in this sacrament,
when we see him so desirous to visit us, and take up
his dwelling in our hearts ? Endeavour to excite this
desire, by considering how much you stand in need of
this bread of life, and by the great esteem this heavenly
nourishment deserves.
Since thou, O Lord, art so prodigal of
miracles, and obligest me to receive thee under
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ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION.
such severe penalties, nothing can be more
certain than that thou desirest to make my
heart thy dwelling-place. With what fervent
desires should I not, therefore, endeavour to
co-operate with such bountiful intentions! O
my all-sufficient God, though thou standest
in no need of me, yet thou hast compassion on
my poverty. May then the efficacy of thy grace
supply my indigence ; may it awaken every
faculty of my soul, and render my desires to
receive thee worthily still more inflamed ; for
though they are arrived at a certain anxiety, I
am nevertheless sensible of their being too tepid.
Alas ! my Redeemer, why do I not sigh after
thee with the same holy fervour as did the
patriarchs of the old law, who expected thy
coming ? “ Come, O Lord, and do not delay.”
Remember, O heavenly physician, that thou
canst not refuse thy all-healing balsam to the
wounds of my soul, since thy motive for de-
scending on earth was to heal the sins of men.
Although I am needy and poor, yet thou canst
enrich me ; although I am enslaved under the
tyranny of my predominant passions, yet thou
canst break my chains and set me at liberty ;
a single word of thine would be altogether
sufficient to work these miracles in favour of
one so unworthy of thy corporal presence as I
am. Speak it then, O Sovereign Good, for I
can no longer live without thee. Let blind and
infatuated worldlings intoxicate themselves
with the false, transient, and fading happiness
of this life ; as for my part, nothing besides
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thyself can content me, either in heaven or on
earth ; for what have I in heaven, or what can
I desire on earth besides thee? Come, then, O
thou Lamb of God, who takest away the sins
of the world ! Come, thou beloved of my heart !
adorable flesh and precious blood of my Sa-
viour ! Come, to nourish, comfort, and enliven
my sickly soul. O God of my heart ! let me
neither love, seek, nor think on any other
object but thyself alone : for thou alone art my
consolation, my treasure, my joy, my life, my
God, and my all! My heart as eagerly de-
sires to receive thee, as the wearied stag longs
to quench his thirst in the fountains of water.
JPsalm xli.
AN ACT OF FEAB.
The Evangelist mentions, that when our Saviour declared
to his disciples, that one of them should betray him,
they were all exceedingly afflicted : u Verily I say unto
you, that one of you will betray me; and they began
each of them to say, Is it I, Lord? Is it IP” — Matt .
xxviii. Let your hearts also give way for a moment,
to the thoughts of that uncertainty which every man is
in, of being in the state of grace : examine seriously
your real dispositions, and have no other confidence
than in the mercy of God.
If the uncertainty of being worthy of thy love
or hatred, O Lord, made even St. Paul, that
vessel of election, tremble, how much more
reason have not I to apprehend, lest some con-
cealed sin, lurking in my heart, might obstruct
the salutary influence of those graces which
thou hast prepared for those who worthily
receive thee in this divine sacrament? May
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ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION.
not I, perhaps, like another Judas, give thee
the kiss of peace to-day, and basely betray
thee to-morrow ? or, instead of coining to visit
me as a faithful disciple, dost thou not rather
come with horror and indignation, as to a con-
cealed enemy? How can I answer for the
integrity of my confession, the fervour of my
contrition, or the sincerity of my resolutions ?
Is it not custom, or human respect, that brings
me to the foot of thy altar ? Have not I still
some favourite attachment ? and in the resolu-
tions I have made of relinquishing my vile evil
habits, have I not spared some favourite though
dangerous passion ? With the same heart-felt
anguish as thy disciples experienced on the like
occasion, I ask thee, O Lord, " Is it I ? 11 But
the most abominable traitor, J udas, asked thee
the same question ? Is not my anxiety, as his
was, only false and apparent? It is this
thought, O my God, that terrifies me ; and it is
to thyself alone I have recourse to preserve
me from so horrible a sacrilege. No, thou
wilt never permit me to be guilty of so horrid
a profanation, since thou seest there is no evil
I dread so much. Wherefore, my dear Saviour,
after being as diligent as I could in my pre-
paration to receive thee, I now rest entirely
on thy infinite mercy, u Depart from me, O
Lord, for I am a sinful man’1 — Luke, v. “ Have
confidence, my child, thy sins are forgiven
thee.11 — Matt. xi.
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AN ACT OF CONTRITION.
By our Saviour’s washing the feet of his disciples, to
prepare them for this new supper, (“ And he began to
wash the feet of his disciples, and dry them with the
girt he had about him,” — John , xiii.) we are taught not
to confine ourselves merely to detesting those grievous
sins which give death to the soul ; because we see that
the disciples were obliged to undergo this ceremony,
though Christ already had declared them pure, and in
the state of grace; (“you,” saith he, “are already
clean;”) but we should also endeavour to purify our
souls, as much as possible, from even the slightest stains
of venial sin, which is signified by the washing of the
feet of his disciples.
To transform a soul, so defiled as mine by
the ordure of sin, into a state of innocence
and purity, must be the work of the right
hand of the Most High. Ah, my God ! I
shall never be able to discover any vestige of
that precious innocence which makes a soul
so lovely and acceptable in thy sight, unless I
trace back my whole life to the days of my
childhood. But although I have had the mis-
fortune to forfeit my baptismal innocence by
sin, yet there remains for my consolation this
sure anchor, whereby I may hope to regain
thy favour, grounded on thy infallible promise,
that thou wilt never despise a contrite and
humble heart.
But if even the enormity of my sins had not
exposed me to thy wrath, and consequently to
the eternal pains of hell, yet I would never-
theless sincerely detest them. O my God ! do
not upbraid me with mine iniquities ; they are
always in my sight ; and the bitterness of my
regret for having committed them, shall serve
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118 ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION.
as a continual punishment of my baseness. Ah,
my Redeemer, though I cannot suffer such an
excessive degree of anguish as thou didst dur-
ing thy agony in the garden of Gethsemani,
when in a bloody sweat thou didst offer thy-
self as a victim to the Eternal Father, yet I
am fully determined to suffer with patience
every cross or affliction which may fall in my
way, as well in atonement for the sins I have
hitherto committed, as to prevent me from
future relapses. Assist me with thy grace, O
Lord, and remove every occasion of sin at a
distance from me : and as I dread no evil so
much as that of offending thee mortally, rather
prevent me, by cutting the thread of life, than
suffer me again to become thine enemy. But
in my present disposition of mind, I do not
confine myself to merely detesting all mortal
offences ! No, my amiable Saviour ! inflamed
with thy love, I am also fully resolved to avoid
every venial sin that may in the least displease
thee, or diminish the influence of thy graces.
And though I have a well-grounded confidence
that my soul has been cleansed in the sacra-
ment of penance, still I desire to he washed
more and more from my iniquities. “ Create
a clean heart in me, O God; and renew an
upright spirit within my bowels.’1 — Psalm L
A PRAYER
FOR OBTAINING THE EFFECTS OF A PLENARY INDULGENCE.
Accept, O almighty God, through the merits
of thine only Son J esus Christ, the intercession
of his immaculate Mother the blessed Virgin
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ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION. 119
Mary, and of the whole court of heaven, the
communion I am about to make, to thy greater
glory. Accept it in thanksgiving for thy in-
numerable benefits, to obtain the pardon of my
sins, and grace to acquire a victory over my
passions, particularly those to which I am
most enslaved. [Name them.]
Considering that the debts which I owe to thy
justice are so immense, that of myself I have not
the means of discharging them, I have recourse
to the inexhaustible treasure of the merits of my
Redeemer, which thy church (in virtue of the
keys of the kingdom of heaven, which he has.
committed to its supreme pastors, in the person
of St. Peter,) now holds forth to me. Grant
me, O Lord, the dispositions to obtain such a
portion thereof, as may be necessary to dis-
charge the debt of temporal punishment due to
my sins. Suffer me now to partake of the in-
finite merits of Christ, that the immense ransom
which he has paid for my salvation being ap-
plied to my poor sinful soul, I may be released
from the punishments which it has otherwise
so justly deserved. I beseech thee also, O most
bountiful Lord ! to pour down thy blessings on
thy holy Catholic Church ; on its supreme
pastor, [Pope N, JV.] ; on the pastor to whom
the care of thy flock in this archdiocess or
diocess is committed [name him] ; upon our
queen, and all the royal family ; upon all thy
• bishops and clergy throughout the whole world.
Enlighten poor infidels, heretics, and sinners ;
and assist such apostolic missionaries as labour
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120 ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION.
in their conversion. Unite all mankind in the
profession of the true faith ; give them the spirit
of divine charity, whereby they may love thee
above all things, and for thy sake love each
other. Have compassion on the suffering souls
of the faithful departed. Give thy blessing to
my parents, friends, relations, and benefactors ;
preserve them from eternal misery ; and con-
duct us all, by thy grace, to the mansions of
celestial bliss, there to praise and glorify thee
for ever. Amen.
AN ACT OF HUMILITY.
Reflect on these words: u And he gave it to his disciples,
and said, Take ye, and eat,” &c. It must have been a
great cause of confusion to the apostles, when they
beheld their Saviour distribute to them his sacred body,
' not merely that they might adore it. or that they might
preserve it as an inestimable relic, Dut that they might
make it their food. Be thou also penetrated with the
most profound humility.
W hat am I, O God of majesty and glory,
or who am I, that thou shouldst deign even to
look on me ? Whence am I honoured with so
unspeakable a favour, as that my Lord and
my God should come and visit in person such
a miserable and vile worm of the earth ? How
dare a being more contemptible than nothing,
approach so holy a God, eat the bread of an-
gels, and feed on thy divine flesh ! Ah, Lord !
it is too much ; I am not worthy of so great a
favour ; I shall never, no never, deserve it.
O King of heaven and earth ! adorable So-
vereign ! the Author and * Preserver of the
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universe! behold, I annihilate myself before
thee, protesting that I would humble myself
as much for thy glory, as thou dost here for my
salvation. I acknowledge, with the most pro-
found respect, the infinite grandeur of thy
divine Majesty and my own miserable baseness.
The contemplation of one and the other fills
me with inexpressible confusion. Can I pos-
sibly say more, my dear Saviour, than to
confess, with the utmost humility, in the words
of the centurion : “ Lord, I am not worthy
that thou shouldst enter under my roof; say
but the word, and my soul shall be saved.”
AN ACT OF FAITH.
In consequence of the words pronounced by our Saviour
when he consecrated the bread and wine, “ This is my
body,” &c.; “this is my blood,” &c.; the apostles
received what Christ then gave them as his real body
and blood. Do thou now, in like manner, make a most
lively Act of Faith of the real presence of Jesus Christ
in the blessed Eucharist.
Since thou, omnipotent God, whose almighty
words are creative, productive, and effective ;
since thou, O eternal Truth, who canst neither
deceive nor be deceived ; since thou, I say,
hast declared that thou art really and actually
present under the appearance of material bread,
I therefore implicitly believe it ; for what greater
proof can I require of the truth of this mystery,
than thine own infallible word ? Yes, my dear
Saviour, I openly confess, and am inwardly
convinced, that it is thou thyself I am going to
receive ; thou who for my sake wast born in a
manger ; thou who for my redemption didst
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ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION.
die on a cross, and who, though now gloriously
seated on thy heavenly throne, still continuest
on earth, under the sacramental veils, to feed
and nourish the souls of men. Were I to be-
hold thee with my corporal eyes, and examine
the impression of the wounds thou didst re-
ceive in thy sacred hands and sides, as St.
Thomas did, still I could not say with more
confidence than I now do, that thou art my
Lord and my God ! I do not demand a miracle
as a proof of thy real presence ; no, Lord, let
me rather have the whole merit of faith ; for
thou hast said, “ Blessed are those who believe
and do not see.”
Wert thou therefore to speak to me from this
very tabernacle, the voice would affect me less
than that which resounds in thy gospel and
thy church, founded by thyself, and propagated
in a miraculous manner. Though my senses
may tell me it is nothing but mere bread ; yet,
submitting them entirely in obedience to divine
faith, I answer it is thy real body and blood,
accompanied by thy soul and divinity. In this
faith I am determined to live and die ; and were
I to suffer a thousand martyrdoms in testimony
thereof, I am persuaded, that by the help of
thy grace I would remain immoveable. “ Thou
art really a hidden God — a God Saviour. —
Isaias. “ I believe ; O Lord, help my un-
belief.”— Mark) ix.
When about to communicate, let your heart he pene-
trated with a lively sense of the actual presence of your
divine Saviour, and at the same time enaeavour to recol-
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lecfc the different passages of Scripture above quoted, they
being, as it were, an abridgment of the foregoing acts.
You may also reflect on the words, u May the body of our
Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul into life everlasting,”
which the priest pronounces at the moment he gives you
the blessed sacrament ; because they imply, that the end
proposed in communicating, is not simply to abide in a
certain regularity of conduct for a few months, weeks, or
days; but to persevere faithfully^ to the very hour of
death, in that state of grace to which a worthy participa-
tion of this divine sacrament shall now raise you.
AN ACT OF HOPE.
Since thou vouchsafest to come and dwell
within me, O my Redeemer, what may I not
expect from thy bounty! I therefore present
myself before thee with that lively confidence
which thy infinite goodness inspires. Thou not
only knowest all my wants, but thou art also
willing and able to relieve them. Thou hast not
only invited me, but also promised me thy gra-
cious assistance: ff Come to me, all you that
labour and are heavy burdened, and I will re-
fresh you.” Behold, then, O Lord, I accept of
thy gracious invitation ; I lay before thee all
my wants, my misery, and my blindness ; and
confidently hope, without the fear of being dis-
appointed, that thou wilt enlighten my under-
standing, inflame my will, comfort me in the
midst of such crosses or afflictions as thou hast
appointed I should suffer, strengthen me in all
temptations and trials, and in fine, with the
powerful assistance of thy grace, change me
into a new creature ; for art not thou, O God,
the master of my heart ; and when shall my
heart be more absolutely disposed of by thee,
than when thou shalt have once entered into it?
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DEVOUT PRAYERS,
OR FERVENT ASPIRATIONS
AFTER COMMUNION.
I return thee most hearty thanks, O ami-
able Jesus, for the inestimable blessing I now
enjoy. I praise and glorify thee with my whole
soul, for the numberless favours I have re-
ceived from thy bounty. I adore thee now
reposing within my breast. O my God and
my all ! a thousand times welcome. May thy
holy name be for ever blessed ! O Sovereign
Lord of Heaven ! how amazing is the excess
of thy goodness, in condescending to visit so
poor, so vile, so abject a creature as I am !
Thou hast vouchsafed to heap thy favours on
dust and ashes ; to come into this poor cottage,
this house of clay, my earthly habitation ; and
to feed my soul with the heavenly banquet of
thy most precious body and blood. O teach
me to entertain thee as I ought, and to make
thee some suitable return for this thy infinite
love. I would gladly make thee some offering
in acknowledgment of the rich present thou
hast made me, in giving thyself to me; but,
alas! dear Lord, thou knowest my poverty,
and that I have nothing worthy of thy accept-
ance ; nothing but what, on a thousand titles,
is already thine. But, O my bountiful Saviour,
such is thy goodness, that tliou wilt be con-
tented with the little I can give thee, although
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PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION. 125
it be tbine already. Thou askest nothing but
my heart, and tins I most willingly offer thee.
0 be pleased to accept it, and make it wholly
thine for ever. Take full possession thereof;
1 offer it to thee without reserve. I desire to
consecrate it entirely to thy service. Disen-
gage it therefore, from this moment, from the
slavery of its passions and vices. Stifle in it
every desire but that of loving and pleasing
thee. Inflame it with the fire of divine cha-
rity, that it may ever bum with thy love. O
may the sweet flames thereof consume my soul,
that so I may die to the world for the love of
thee, who hast vouchsafed to expire on the
cross for the love of me. I cast myself entirely
into the arms of thy mercy, and offer thee my
whole being ; my body with all its senses, and
my soul with all its powers ; that as thou hast
honoured them both by thy real presence, so
they may both be thy temple for ever. O sanc-
tify and consecrate eternally to thyself this
mansion, which thou hast, by a wonderful con-
descension, chosen this day for thine abode ;
and grant that, like Zacchaeus, I may obtain
thy benediction. I offer thee my memory, that
it may be ever recollected in thee ; my under-
standing, that it may be always directed and
enlightened by thy truth ; and my will, that it
may be ever conformable to thine. O take me
entirely into thy hands, with all that I have,
and all that I am ; and let nothing hencefor-
ward, either in life or death, ever separate me
from thee any more. Make me according to
l 2
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126 PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION.
thy own heart ; and let my soul be thy habita-
tion for ever. Draw me most powerfully after
thee, and guide my steps, that I may cheerfully
run into the paths of virtue, and walk in the
way of thy precepts. Make me diligent in the
duties of my calling and state of life, and teach
me to do thy will in all things. Let thy bless-
ing be upon all my actions, and thy grace
direct my intentions, that the whole course of
my life, and the principal design of my heart,
may ever tend to the advancement of thy glory,
the good of my neighbour, and the eternal sal-
vation of my soul. Amen.'
O my soul, bless the Lord ; and let all that
is within thee praise and magnify his holy
name. Pay him the best homage thou art able,
and invite heaven and earth to join with thee
in glorifying him for ever. O my God ! that I
could now give thee as much praise, honour,
and glory, as the blessed spirits incessantly
give thee in heaven ! O that I could adore thee
with the spirit and affection of thine elect ! But
as I am unable to do this, accept at least this
my desire and good will. O ye angels and
saints, bless my God for me ; thank my Lord
for me ; love my J esus for me ; and sing forth
his praises in supply of my defects. O beauty
ever ancient and always new ! too late have I
known thee ; too late have I loved thee. When '
shall I live only in thee, by thee, and for thee
alone. O my God, and my all, when shall I
see the day, when shall the happy time arrive,
that, disgusted with the false happiness of this
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PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION. 127
deceitful world, I shall seek comfort from thee
alone, and find rest to my soul ? O heavenly
manna ! O adorable sacrament ! O inestimable
pledge of God’s love to mankind ! O standing
memorial of Christ’s passion and death ! O in-
exhaustible fountain of divine grace ! O bound-
less mercy ! O divine charity ! O sacred fire,
ever burning and never decaying ! Hail, O
loving Jesus, my only pleasure and delight, the
joy of my soul, and my portion for ever. Let
my soul be sensible of the sweetness of thy
presence. Let me taste how sweet thou art, O
Lord. Purify my heart from the dross of all
earthly affections. Deliver me from my vicious
customs. Remove me from all baneful effects
of concupiscence. Perfect me in charity, pa-
tience, humility, obedience, and all other virtues.
May I rather die than ever more offend thee
by mortal sin ! O may I prove my gratitude
by my fidelity to so good a God ! Abolish
the reign of sin, and establish the kingdom of
grace in all hearts. Let the light of thy coun-
tenance so shine upon all those who are in the
darkness of infidelity, as to dispel their errors.
Grant peace and union to all Christian princes,
and preserve us from the dreadful scourges of
war, famine, and pestilence. Convert all sin-
ners ; reconcile those who are at variance.
Have mercy on my parents, friends, and bene-
factors. Have mercy on all my enemies ; for-
give them their sins, and fill both their hearts
and mine with thy charity. Reform all abuses,
and remove all scandals from thy church. Com-
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128 PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION.
fort all that are under any affliction, sickness,
or violence of pain. Support those who are
under temptation ; protect those that are in
danger ; and grant a happy passage to all that
are in their last agony. Extend thy mercy
likewise to the souls of all the faithful departed,
and admit them to the possession of thy eternal
glory. Grant relief to us all in our respective
necessities, the remission of our sins, the grace
of final perseverance, and life everlasting. —
Amen.
ANOTHER PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION ;
OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE 8ICK AS A VIATICUM.
O my gracious Saviour ! what greater hap-
piness or comfort could I expect ! O wonderful
condescension of my God ! O what return shall
I make him for his ineffable love ! He whom
the saints, the angels, and the whole heavenly
host adore, hath given himself entirely to me,
and now really and substantially dwelleth
within me ! Without any other inducement
hut his pure mercy, he hath vouchsafed to
visit, comfort, and nourish my poor soul with
the divine and heavenly banquet of his precious
body and blood, with which he redeemed me
on the cross. May honour, praise, and glory
be for ever paid thee, O my sweet Redeemer
J esus Christ ! O that I could now give thee
as much honour and glory as is incessantly
given thee by the whole choir of heaven ! Ac-
cept, O Lord, my heart, as a thanksgiving-
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PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION. 129
offering for all thy favours and blessings.
Accept my whole being, for by every claim of
right and justice it belongeth entirely to thee.
And thou, O my soul, bless the Lord, and
let all that is within thee praise his holy name.
O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord,
praise and glorify him for ever. O all ye angels
of the Lord, bless the Lord ; magnify, praise,
and glorify his holy name, because I have
found the beloved of my soul. Prostrate at his
feet, like the penitent Magdalen, I will em-
brace him in spirit, and clasp him with the
arms of inflamed love. And now, as I have
actually received him on earth, may I not con-
fidently hope for the perfect possession of him
in heaven ? I can now fear no evil, because thou,
O Lord, art with me, as my powerful guardian
and protector ! Give me therefore thy bless-
ing, O beloved Jesus ! and establish an ever-
lasting peace in my soul. Thou art the God
of my heart, my portion and inheritance for
ever. Let nothing in future be my comfort
but thou, my Lord Jesus ; nor let any thing
afflict me hereafter but my sins, and whatever
is displeasing to thy divine Majesty. O soul
of Christ, sanctify me; body of Christ, save
me ; blood of Christ, purify me ; water issuing
from the side of Christ, wash me ; passion of
Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, graci-
ously hear me, hide me within thy wounds,
suffer me never to be separated from thee;
call me at the hour of death, and command me
to come to thee, that I may associate with the
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ACTS AFTER COMMUNION.
saints and angels, and the whole choir of celes-
tial spirits, to sing forth canticles of praise
and glory to thy holy name for ever and
ever, world without end. Amen, Amen, Amen,
sweet Jesus!
ACTS OF VIRTUE AFTER COMMUNION.
TO BE USED ACCORDING TO EACH PERSON’S LEI8URE OR
OPPORTUNITY.
Now, whilst the plenitude of the Divinity dwelleth
corporally within you, meditate most profoundly, with
the Blessed Virgin, upon the great wonders which the
Almighty hath wrought in your favour. Consider yourself
as a living tabernacle, wherein resideth the Holy of
Holies. Let this single reflection prevent all distractions,
and keep your mind in the most perfect composure and
recollection.
AN ACT OF CONFIDENCE.
u Now there was leaning on the bosom of Jesus one of his
disciples, whom Jesus loved.” — John , xiii. 16. What
a glorious privilege was this which St. John had ! What
consolation must he not have felt from the impression of
the Divinity ! What delightful repose ! Pour forth thy
heart, as he did his, into that of Jesus, and abandon
thyself to the most lively sentiments of confidence.
Behold ! here lie is, then, the treasure of my
soul ! I am now in possession of the Sovereign
Good ! O what advantage upon earth can he
compared to this ? What glory ! what comfort !
to feel my God so near me ! “ My soul hath
found whom she loveth : I have hold of him,
nor will I let him go.” — Cant. iv. The first
thought, O God ! with which thy presence in-
spires me, is a sentiment of adoration and
respect. Permit me, then, in union with the
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ACTS AFTER COMMUNION. 131
blessed in heaven, to offer thee my most pro-
found homage. Yes, under these sacred veils,
where thy love for me hath concealed the
splendour of thy Majesty, I most humbly adore
thee. I acknowledge thee as my master, my
creator, and the supreme arbiter of my eternal
destiny. The less thou wouldst make thyself
for my sake, the more real respect and venera-
tion have I for thee. But these thoughts are
absorbed in the greatness of my confidence.
This I cannot contain, nor yet am I able to
express it. If thou takest pleasure in, if thou
even enjoinest us to place our trust in thee, is
it not in this mystery, where thou dost com-
municate thyself without reserve, where thou
literally verinest that tender promise of treat-
ing ue no longer as servants, but as friends ?
These words, which thou never didst address
to thy angels or prophets, thou dost accomplish
for sinners in this sacrament : yes, it would be
an insult offered to thee, not to have the greatest
hopes in thy mercy ; for it is not here, O God,
that thou exercisest thy justice ; thou art
glorious in heaven ! all-powerful on earth ! and
terrible in hell ! but in the Eucharist, thou art
mild, consoling, sweet, and liberal. Ah ! what
canst thou refhse me, when thou hast given me
thyself? and where is the confidence that can
be too tender ? Why should I envy the beloved
disciple who leaned on thy breast at thy last
supper, for dost thou not at present rest in my
heart ? O let me, then, be for ever inviolably
attached to thee. Let the sweets of thy pre-
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132 ACTS AFTER COMMUNION.
sence so captivate my soul, that disgusted with
sin, it may be fixed in the contemplation of
thee alone, and listen with docility to thy holy
inspirations. “ All you, then, that doubt of the
goodness of God, come now and learn ! come
and admire ! come and taste with me his in-
finite mercies ! come and hear, all ye that fear
God, and I will tell you what great things he
hath done for my soul!11 — Psalm xiv. Who
would have believed it ? WTiat ! one of his
disciples, not prostrate at his feet, hut reclining
upon his breast, and honoured with his par-
ticular affection! Yes, all this he hath done
for him, and is ready to do the same for me
also. “ Behold the Lord my Saviour ; I will
act confidently, and I will not fear.11 — Isaias , ii.
“ The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever.11 —
Psalm, lxxviii.
AN ACT OF LOVE.
M Lord, where art thou going, why cannot I follow thee
now ? I will lay down my life for thee.,, — John , xiii.
u How can I consent to be separated from thee P (saith
St. Peter to Jesus :) no ; I will never leave thee, were
I to follow thee even unto death.” This is a model of
that generous love which a faithful soul should testify
unto God in the holy Communion.
If I cannot approach thee, O my God, with
as much confidence as thy apostle St. Peter did,
yet I come with equal warmth and sincerity,
to assure thee of my eternal attachment. Ac-
cept, therefore, the offering I now make thee,
not only of my whole being, hut of all I possess.
Unhappy and miserable should I think myself,
were I not in the disposition of mind to sacrifice
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the most precious advantage this world can
afford, at the first intimation of thy will. Dis-
pose of the life thou hast given me according
to thy pleasure. I offer myself entirely to thee ;
my employments, talents, and every power and
faculty of soul and body, that they may be
ever and always employed in promoting thy
honour and glory. In justice I am obliged,
if necessary, to die for thee, since thou hast
generously given up thy life for my salvation.
But thy regard for me, O sweet J esus, was not
to be confined within the boundaries of this life ;
for after having loved me even unto death, thou
hast besides left me this divine food as a sen-
sible pledge of thy affection. Ah, dear Lord !
what more couldst thou possibly do for me ?
and how ungrateful a wretch would T not be,
if such wonderful marks of thy tenderness were
not capable of exciting the most lively senti-
ments of love and gratitude in my soul? The
very damned would then be less culpable than
I ; for if they do not love thee, it is because
they cannot possibly love thee ; and therefore
thou dost not expect love from them. But I
can love thee ; because every thing induces me
to love thee; and thou art even mercifully
pleased to command that I should love thee
with my whole heart, &c. O thou eternal
Beauty ! too late have I begun to love thee :
O amiable Lord ! who art ever lovely, and never
sufficiently beloved, I consider every moment of
my life as lost, which has not been consecrated
M
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ACTS AFTER COMMUNION.
to thy love; accept, at least, the remainder
thereof. If I cannot love thee as much as I
could wish, or as much as thou hast loved me,
or as much as thou dost deserve, yet I will
love thee as much as I am able. Angels of
heaven ! O Mother of God ! and all ye saints !
lend me now your hearts ; for I have, alas !
hut one to love my God, and that too small,
and too much polluted with the love of creatures.
Diminish in me, O Lord, all other advantages,
provided thou dost grant me an increase of
divine charity. I imagine, O my God, that
thou art now enkindling this sacred fire within
my breast, and that I could answer thee, with
as much confidence as St. Peter, “ Lord, thou
knowest I love thee,” and that for thy sake
alone; I love thee with my whole heart, with-
out reserve, firmly resolving never to fix my
affections on any thing besides thyself. Yes, I
am content to find nothing but disgust, bitter-
ness, and affliction, in every other attachment,
that I may be thus happily compelled to repose
in thee for ever. O establish now a solid, effica-
cious, lively, ardent, and persevering love within
my heart ; and though thou remain therein but
for a few moments, let the effectual influence
of thy grace for ever remain behind. “ My
beloved to me, and I to my beloved.” — Cant . xvi.
“ Thou knowest, Lord, that I love thee.” —
John , xxi.
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135
AN ACT OF SUPPLICATION.
Our Saviour’s last supper was one continual prayer, which
he offered up for his apostles, and a most pressing invi-
tation to solicit favours from him. u O holy Father,”
says he, u preserve those whom thou hast given me ;
for them I ask. Peter, I have asked for thee. Until
now you have not asked for anything; ask, and you
shall receive.” Here he exhorts us to pray for all those
graces we stand most in need of. He further adds a
most affecting and solid instruction^ recommending
them earnestly to persevere in his service : u Remain,”
says he, “ in my love.” He forewarned them of the
trials they were to undergo ; he inculcated certain pre-
cepts; he reproached them with some of their most
striking defects. In this manner will he also speak
privately to your heart ; he will make known his will to
you; he will tell you many things of which you have
no notion, or which you disguise to yourself. Listen
to him then without doubt, as the apostles did, and ask
him questions with the most sincere desire to accomplish
his holy will.
Thou are present within me, O inexhaustible
source of all good ; thou art full of tenderness,
and ready to shed all thy favours upon me. O
shower them down most abundantly ! Consider
my manifold wants ; consider the immensity of
thy power. Transform me, therefore, into a
new man. Divest my heart of whatever is dis-
pleasing to thee. Adorn it with whatever may-
render me acceptable in thy sight. Purify my
body. Sanctify my soul. Let me share in the
merits of thy life and death. Unite thyself to
me ; unite me to thyself. Live thou in me,
that in thee I also may live, and never have
life but for thy sake. Grant me those graces
of which thou knowest I stand most in need.
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ACTS AFTER COMMUNION.
Grant the same to all those for whom I am
bound to pray. Canst thou refuse me any
thing, after what thou hast done for me ? What
may I not expect from thee, since thou hast
given me thyself? “ I will not let thee go until
thou dost bless me.” — Gen . xxxii. 26. “ Do to
thy servant according to thy mercy.”
AN ACT OF OBLATION.
In crowning the innumerable gifts thou hast
already bestowed upon me with the inestimable
favour of giving me thyself, thou desirest to
convince me that I should live but for thy sake
alone, O God of goodness and mercy ! This,
0 Lord, is what I also most fervently wish : I
would have all my thoughts, words, actions,
and whatever designs I may form or put into
execution, for the time to come, always directed
by a most perfect resignation to thy holy will.
1 desire that my health, fortune, strength, re-
putation, talents of mind and body ; in a word,
whatever relates to me, either interiorly or ex-
teriorly, may be entirely disposed of to thy
honour and glory. I consecrate the remainder
of my life, without the least reserve, to thy
divine service. I now make an offering unto
thee of whatever pains or sufferings I may
hereafter undergo in my last sickness, and
cheerfully accept of whatever crosses thou
mayest henceforth be pleased to afflict me with.
“ Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my
spirit.” — Psalm xxx.
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A RESOLUTION OP AMENDMENT.
u That the world may know that I love the Father; and as
the Father gave me a commandment, so I do. Arise,
let us go,” saith Christ, (John, xiii.) u instantly and
without hesitation, to execute his will.” Such is the
generosity with which we should now, and at all times,
resolve to execute, in every particular, the command-
ments of the Almighty.
Behold, O my God, the moment is now come,
wherein I am to sacrifice those inclinations to
thee which thou hast so often demanded, and
which I was so miserably slothful as to have
refused thee. I now see the danger to which
my sluggish languor has exposed me, and am
determined to avoid it. I will labour inces-
santly against my vicious habits. I am deter-
mined to quit the immediate occasion of sin.
I pledge myself to thee, and am satisfied to be
treated as thine enemy, if these promises be
not most sincere and determined. I will no
longer resist thy inspirations, nor allow myself
those pleasures which thy law forbids, nor
expose myself to the danger of offending thee.
There shall be no more remissness in my duty,
nor languor in my devotion. I do not make
these promises through a spirit of presumption,
(for I am convinced of my own insufficiency,
and know, that if abandoned by thee, I must
necessarily fall back into all my former dis-
orders,) but being now united to thee, I flatter
myself that, in spite of my frailty, I shall con-
stantly persevere in thy grace. Why should I
not find the same' strength in this divine sacra-
M 2
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ACTS AFTER COMMUNION.
ment, which thy glorious martyrs have derived
from it ? It was here they imbibed that generous
spirit of suffering, which could brave the power
of tyrants, and smile on the horrors of death.
And art thou now less faithful, less liberal, or less
able to fortify me against the attacks of the
enemies of my salvation? No. Come, then, it is
full time I should begin the work of my salvation.
Thy will has been sufficiently declared to me ;
I will hesitate no longer to put it in execution,
how great soever the conflict may he against
myself and the world. In fine, let me feel, O
Lord, an experimental conviction of such a
reformation of life, as may edify those whom
my past conduct has scandalized, by convincing
them that I do now really love thee. “ Arise,
let us go s I have sworn, and am resolved to
keep thy commandments.” — Ps, cxviii. “ Con-
firm, O G-od, what thou hast wrought in us.” —
Psalm lxxvi.
AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING.
“ And having sung a hymn they went out.” The apostles
did not quit the room until they had previously testified
their gratitude for so signal a favour: and it is our
Saviour himself who showed them the example; for
when he was iust going to bless and consecrate the
bread, he lifted up his eyes to his heavenly Father, to
return him thanks for having bestowed this favour upon
mortals : 1 1 And giving thanks , he blessed, and broke,” &c.
Conclude your Communion, in like manner, with the
most tender effusions of gratitude to God.
When I reflect, O Lord, on the many favours
thou hast conferred on me, I am overwhelmed
with confusion, and feel my heart penetrated
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ACTS AFTER COMMUNION. 139
with such deep sentiments of gratitude, as cannot
be expressed. I find myself, as it were, encom-
passed on all sides, and pressed by thy goodness.
It is thou thyself, O Lord, that lovest me, in
all those creatures from whom I receive any
benefit or advantage. My parents, from whom
I received my existence, or my friends, who
have given me such proofs of their tenderness,
are but the instruments of thy providence, and
the channels of thy mercies in my behalf.
Thou art not only the God of the universe, but
thou art also, in a particular way, my God !
So interested art thou in all that relates to me,
that thy attention seems as if it were entirely
fixed on me alone. Thou hast given me all
thou hast made, all that I am, and all that
thou art thyself, cannot I, therefore, with as
much reason as David, call thee “ the God of
my salvation and my mercy ; my refuge and
my support ; my treasure and my inheritance?’1
Nay, more, dost thou not at present vouchsafe
to become my very subsistence, by not only
giving thyself to fortify my weakness, and as a
pledge of eternal life, but also that I may be
nourished with thy very Jlesh and blood ? How
great, therefore, must my ingratitude be, if I
do not make a cordial return for such infinite
love. O my God, suffer me sooner to forget
myself, than to be ever unmindful of this great
favour. Although I have been treacherous,
fearful, and a prevaricator, yet I shall never
be guilty of ingratitude , since I should blush
at this vice even in my commerce with men.
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ACTS AFTER COMMUNION.
But still, wliat return can I make thee, being
of myself insolvent, indigent, and miserable?
Behold ! the treasure is at band ; the gift 1
have now received from thee enables me to
repay thee for all thy other benefits 2 the
sacrifice of all that I am or have, is not worthy
to be presented to thee; but in offering thee
thyself, I consider my debts as abundantly dis-
charged. May thy infinite merits be for ever
exalted for having given me such excellent
means of repaying to the fully the infinite
obligations I owe thee. — “ What return shall
I make to the Lord for all those things which
he has given unto me?” — Psalm cxv. “He
hath made a memorial of his wonderful works,
being a merciful and gracious Lord : he hath
given food to them that fear him.” — Psalm xc.
Do not limit the devotion of this day to the foregoing
prayers, but rather consider it as entirely consecrated to
Jesus Christ; that by this means you may literally accom-
plish the precept of the Holy Ghost: “Let no part of a
good day escape without profit.” — Eccl. xiv. Recollect
frequently this great action, and read some pious book, to
nourish and enliven a spirit of devotion. Remark (or, if
convenient write down) some of those tender sentiments
and good resolutions with which you were affected at the
time of communion; the recollection of them will serve
as a bulwark to guard you against the attacks of tepidity
or dryness. But, above all, endeavour to regulate your
conduct for the time to come, in such a manner as to be
enabled to say, with St. Paul : “ I live, not I, but Christ
J esus liveth in me.” In a word, let your Redeemer only ,
for the future, think, sneak , and act in you; and let
nothing remain in you mat is unworthy of him, for no
scandal can be more injurious to our holy religion, than for
Catholics, after communicating, to lead diseditying and
unchristian lives.
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THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS.
Proper to be said on Fasting Days, and other Penitential
Times.
ANTHEM.
Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor
those of our parents ; neither take thou ven-
geance on our sins.
THE SIXTH PSALM.
The Psalmist prays to be healed from sickness, and im-
E lores pardon for his sins. After obtaining his request,
e exults over his enemies.
O Lord, rebuke me not in thy indignation ;
nor chastise me in thy wrath.
Take pity on me, O Lord, for I am weak :
heal me, O Lord, for all my hones are shaken.
And my soul is troubled exceedingly : but
thou, O Lord, how long?
Return, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O
save me for thy mercies’ sake.
For in death there is none that is mindful of
thee : and who shall confess to thee in hell ?
I have tired myself with my groanings : every
night I will wash my bed, I will water my couch
with my tears.
My eye is disturbed with rage : I am grown
old amidst all mine enemies.
Depart from me, all ye that work iniquity :
for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weep-
ing.
The Lord hath heard my petition : the Lord
hath received my prayer.
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142 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS.
Let all my enemies be ashamed, and very
much troubled : let them be turned back and
put to shame very speedily.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
THE THIRTY-FIRST PSALM.
The Psalmist declares all those happy, whose sins are
forgiven ; and, from his own example, and that of the
saints, exhorts all to seek this beatitude, and to avoid
brutal obstinacy. Rewards and punishments are pro-
posed.
Blessed are they whose iniquities are for-
given, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath
not imputed sin : and in whose soul there is no
guile.
Because I was silent, my bones grew old :
whilst I cried all the day.
For day and night thy hand was heavy upon
me : I am turned in my anguish, whilst the
thorn is fastened.
I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and
my injustice I have not concealed.
I said, I will confess against myself my in-
justice to the Lord : and thou hast forgiven the
impiety of my sin.
For this shall every one that is holy pray to
thee in a seasonable time.
Yet in the deluge of many waters they shall
not approach him.
Thou art my refuge from the tribulation
which hath surrounded me : my joy, deliver me
from them that encompass me.
I will give thee understanding, and I will
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THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 143
instruct thee in the way in which thou shalt
go : I will fix my eyes upon thee.
Do not become like the horse and mule, that
have no understanding.
With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws who
do not approach thee.
Many are the scourges of the sinner: but
mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the
Lord.
Be joyful in the Lord, and rejoice ye just:
and glory all ye upright of heart. Glory, &c.
THE THIRTY-SEVENTH PSALM.
The Psalmist, in sickness, and neglected by his friends,
begs of God to pardon his sins, and to assisfe*and heal
him.
0 Lord, rebuke me not in thy indignation,
nor chastise me in thy wrath.
For thy arrows are fastened in me : and thy
hand hath been strong upon me.
There is no health in my flesh, because of
thy wrath: there is no peace in my bones,
because of my sins.
For mine iniquities are gone over my head :
and, as a weighty burden, are become heavy
upon me.
My sores are putrified and corrupted, because
of my foolishness.
1 am become miserable, and am bowed down
even to the end : I walked sorrowful all the day.
For my loins are filled with illusions : and
there is no health in my flesh.
I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly : I
roared in the groaning of my heart.
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144 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS.
O Lord, my desire is before tbee : and my
sighing is not hidden from thee.
My heart is troubled, my strength hath left
me : and the light of mine eyes itself isnot with
me.
My friends and my neighbours have drawn
near, and stood up against me.
And they that were near me stood afar off :
and they that sought my soul used violence.
And they that sought evils to me, spoke vain
things : and studied deceits all the day long.
But I, as one deaf, did not hear : and as one
dumb, that, opened not his mouth.
And 1 became as a man that heareth not :
and that hath no reproof in his mouth.
For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped : thou
wilt hear me, O Lord, my God.
For I said, lest at any time mine enemies
rejoice over me : and whilst my feet are moved,
they speak great things against me.
For I am prepared for scourges, and my
sorrow is always in my sight.
For I will declare my iniquity: and I will
think of my sin.
But my enemies live, and are become stronger
than I : and they are multipled who hate me
unjustly.
And they that return evil for good have
detracted me, because I followed goodness.
Forsake me not, O Lord, my God : depart
not thou from me.
Come unto my aid, O Lord, the God of my
salvation. Glory, &c.
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THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 145
THE FIFTIETH PSALM.
The Psalmist begs pardon for the sins of adultery and
murder, not through the Mosaic sacrifices, but through
Christ, who was to come and establish his church, and
by his sacrifice appease the injured justice of God.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to
thy great mercy : and according to the multi-
tude of thy tender mercies, blot out my iniquity.
W ash me yet more and more from my iniquity :
and cleanse me from my sin.
Because I know my iniquity 2 and my sin is
always before me.
Against thee only have I sinned, and done
evil before thee : that thou mayest be justified
in thy words, and mayest overcome when thou
artjudged.
For behold I was conceived in iniquities : and
in sins hath my mother conceived me.
For behold thou hast loved truth : the secret
and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made
known to me.
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I
shall be cleansed : thou shalt wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow.
To my hearing thou shalt give joy and
gladness : and the bones that are humble shall
rejoice.
Turn away thy face from my sins : and blot
out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God: and
renew an upright spirit within my bowels.
Cast me not away from thy face : and take
not thy holy spirit from me.
N
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146 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation :
and confirm me with a perfect spirit.
I will teach thy ways to the unjust: and
sinners shall be converted to thee.
Deliver me from blood, O God, the God of
my salvation : and my tongue shall extol thy
justice. .
Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips : and my
mouth shall declare thy praise.
For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, verily I
had given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt
not be delighted.
A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a
contrite and humble heart, O God, thou wilt
not despise.
Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will
with Sion : that the walls of Jerusalem may be
built up.
Then shalt thou accept the sacrifices of
justice, oblations, and whole-burnt offerings :
then shall they lay calves upon thine altar.
Glory, &c.
THE HUNDRED- AND-F1RST PSALM.
The Psalmist bees for mercy upon Sion, that he will raise
out of it his church, to which kings and people may
come and praise God. — A prayer of the poor man, when
he was anxious, and poured out his supplications before
the Lord.
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry
come unto thee.
Turn not away thy face from me : in what
day soever I am in tribulation, incline thine
ear to me.
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THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 14T
In what day soever I shall call upon thee,
hear me speedily.
For my days are vanished like smoke : and
my hones are withered like fuel for the fire.
I am smitten, and my heart is withered like
grass : because I forgot to eat my bread.
Through the voice of my groaning, by hones
have cleaved to my flesh.
I am become like a pelican of the wilderness :
I am become like a night raven in the house.
I have watched, and am become as solitary
as a sparrow upon the house-top.
My enemies upbraided me all the day long :
and they that praised me swore against me.
For I did eat ashes like bread : and mingled
my drink with my tears.
Because of thy wrath and indignation : for
having lifted me up, thou hast cast me down.
My days have declined like a shadow : and
I am withered like grass.
But thou, O Lord, remainest for ever : and
thy memory is from generation to generation.
Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion :
for the time to have mercy on it is come.
For the stones thereof have pleased thy
servants : and they shall have pity on the earth
thereof.
And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord,
and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he
shall be seen in his glory.
He hath regard to the prayer of the humble :
and he hath not despised their petition.
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148 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS.
Let these things be written unto another
generation: and a people to be created shall
praise the Lord.
Because he hath looked forth from his high
sanctuary : the Lord from heaven hath looked
down upon the earth ;
That he might hear the groans of them that
are in fetters : that he might unbind the children
of them that are slain.
That they may declare the name of the Lord
in Sion : and his praise in J erusalem.
In the assembling of the people together in
one ; and kings to serve the Lord.
He answered me in the way of his strength :
Declare unto me the fewness of my days.
Call me not back in the midst of my days :
thy years are from generation unto generation.
In the beginning, O Lord, thou didst found
the earth : and the heavens are the works of
thy hands.
They shall perish, but thou remainest : and
they shall all grow old as a garment.
And as a vestment thou shalt change them,
and they shall be changed : but thou art always
the self-same, and thy years shall not fail.
The children of thy servants shall continue :
and their seed shall be directed for ever.
Glory, &c.
THE HUNDRED-AND-TWKNTY-NINTH PSALM.
The Psalmist earnestly begs pardon, foretelling redemp-
tion through Christ.
Fbom the depths I have cried unto thee, O
Lord : Lord, hear my voice.
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THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 149
Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my
petition.
If thou wilt observe iniquities, O Lord ! Lord,
who will endure it ?
For with thee there is merciful forgiveness :
and on account of thy law I have expected
thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on his words my soul
hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night,
let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy : and
with him plentiful redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all his ini-
quities. Glory, &c.
THE HUNDRED-AND-FORTY-SECOND PSALM.
The Psalmist prays that God would not regard him
according to his merits, but look upon his miseries, and
deliver him from them, and also from his enemies.
0 Lord hear my prayer; give ear to my
petition in thy truth ; hear me in thy justice.
And enter not into judgment with thy servant :
for in thy sight no man living shall be justified.
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul : he
hath humbled my life to the earth.
He hath made me dwell in darkness, as those
who have been dead of old : my spirit is in
anguish upon me, and my heart is troubled
within me.
1 remember the days of old, I meditated on
all thy works : on the works of thy hands did
I meditate %
n 2
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LITANY OF THE SAINTS.
I stretched forth my hands to thee s unto thee
my soul is as earth without water.
Hear me speedily, O Lord : my spirit hath
fainted away.
Turn not away thy face from me s lest I be
like unto them that go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning :
for I have hoped in thee.
Make the way known to me wherein I should
walk : for I have lifted up my soul to thee.
Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord : to
thee have I fled : teach me to do thy will, for
thou art my God.
Thy good spirit shall conduct me into the
way of righteousness ; for thy name’s sake, O
Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice.
Thou wilt bring forth my soul out of tribula-
tion s and in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine
enemies.
And thou wilt destroy all those that afflict
my soul : for I am thy servant. Glory, &c.
ANTHEM.
Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor
those of our parents : and take not revenge of
our sins.
THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS.
Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy
on us. Lord have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
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LITANY OF THE SAINTS. 151
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have
mercy on us .
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us .
Holy Mary
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of Virgins,
St. Michael,
St. Gabriel,
St. Raphael,
All ye holy Angels and Archangels,
All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits,
St. John Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets,
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. Andrew,
St. James,
St. John,
St. Thomas,
St. James,
St. Philip,
St. Bartholomew,
St. Matthew,
St. Simon,
St. Thaddeus,
St. Matthias,
St. Baraaby,
St. Luke,
St. Mar^>
All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists,
All ye holy Disciples of our Lord,
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Pray for us .
152
LITANY OF THE SAINTS.
All ye holy Innocents,
St. Stephen,
St. Laurence,
St. Vincent,
SS. Fabian and Sebastian,
SS. John and Paul,
SS. Cosmas and Damian,
SS. Gervase and Protase,
All ye holy Martyrs,
St. Sylvester,
St. Gregory,
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
St. Martin,
St. Nicholas,
All ye holy Bishops and Confessors,
All ye holy Doctors,
St. Anthony,
St. Bennet,
St. Bernard,
St. Dominick,
St Francis,
All ye holy Priests and Levites,
All ye holy Monks and Hermits,
St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Agatha,
St. Lucy,
St. Agnes,
St. Cecily,
St. Catherine,
St. Anastasia,
All ye holy Virgins and Widows,
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LITANY OF THE SAINTS. 153
All ye Men and Women, Saints of God, make
intercession for us.
Be merciful to us : Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful to us : Graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil,
From all sin.
From thy wrath,
From sudden and unprovided death.
From the deceits of the devil,
From anger, hatred, and all ill-will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From lightning and tempest,
From everlasting death,
Thro’ the mystery of thy holy incarnation.
Thro’ thy coming,
Thro’ thy nativity,
Thro1 thy baptism and holy fasting,
Thro1 thy cross and passion,
Thro1 thy death and burial,
Thro1 thy holy resurrection,
Thro1 thy admirable ascension,
Thro1 the coming of the Holy Ghost, the
comforter.
In the day of J udgment,
We sinners beseech thee to hear us.
That thou spare us,
That thou pardon us. ^
That thou vouchsafe to bring us to true
penance, $
That thou vouchsafe to govern and pre- V
serve thy holy church, gT
That thou vouchsafe to preserve our apos- £
tolic prelate, and all ecclesiastical ^
orders in thy holy religion, J ?
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154
LITANY OF THE SAINTS.
That thou vouchsafe to humble the ene-
mies of thy holy church,
That thou vouchsafe to give peace and
true concord to Christian kings and
princes.
That thou vouchsafe to grant peace and
unity to all Christian people,
That thou vouchsafe to confirm and pre-
serve us in thy holy service,
That thou lift up our minds to heavenly
desires,
That thou render eternal good things to
all our benefactors,
That thou deliver our souls, and those of
our brethren, kinsfolk, and benefac-
tors, from eternal damnation.
That thou vouchsafe to give and preserve
the fruits of the earth,
That thou vouchsafe to give eternal rest
to all the faithful departed,
That thou vouchsafe graciously to hear
us,
Son of God,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of
the world : Spare us, O Lord .
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of
the world : Hear us, O Lord .
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of
the world : Have mercy on us !
Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
Lord have mercy on us ! Christ have mercy
on us ! Lord have mercy on us !
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We beseech thee to hear us.
1ITANT OF THE SAINTS. 155
Our Father, &c. (in secret •)
V . And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil. Amen.
PSALM lxix.
Incline unto my aid, O God: O Lord, make
haste to help me.
Let them he confounded and ashamed that
seek my soul.
Let them forthwith be turned backward, and
blush for shame, that desire evils to me.
Let them be turned backward, and blush,
and be put to shame, who say to me, It is well!
it is weft !
Let aU that seek thee be glad, and rejoice in
thee 2 and let those who love thy salvation, say
always. Our Lord be magnified.
. But I am needy and poor ! O God help me.
Thou art my helper and my deliverer ! O
Lord make no delay.
V . Glory be to the Father, &c.
R. As it was, &c.
V. Save thy servants :
R. Who put their trust in thee, my God.
V. Be to us, O Lord, a tower of strength 2
R. Against the face of the enemy.
V . Let not the enemy prevail against us :
R. Nor the son of iniquity have power to
hurt us.
V. O Lord, deal not with us according to
our sins:
R. Nor reward us according to our iniquities.
V . Let us pray for our chief Bishop [AT.AT.]
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156 LITANY OF THE SAINTS.
R. May the Lord preserve him, and prolong
his life, and make him happy on earth, and
deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
Y. Let us pray for our benefactors :
R. Vouchsafe, O Lord, for thy name’s sake,
to render eternal life to all those who do us good.
Y. Let us pray for the faithful departed :
R. Give them, O Lord, eternal rest : and let
perpetual light shine unto them.
V. May they rest in peace. R. Amen.
V. For our absent brethren :
R. Save thy servants, O my God, who put
their trust in thee.
V. Send them help, O Lord, from thy sanc-
tuary :
R. And from Sion protect them.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer :
R. And let my supplication come unto thee.
V. May the Lord be with you s
R. And with thy spirit.
LET US PRAY.
O God, whose property it is, always to have
mercy and to spare, receive our petitions,
that we and all thy servants, who are bound
by the chain of sin, may, by the compassion
of thy goodness, mercifully be absolved.
Hear, we beseech thee, O Lord, the prayers
of thy suppliants, and pardon our sins, who
confess them to thee ; that of thy bounty thou
mayest grant us pardon and peace.
Out of thy clemency, O Lord, show us thy
unspeakable mercy ; that so thou mayest both
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LITANY OF THE SAINTS. 157
acquit us of our sins, and deliver us from the
punishment we deserve for them.
O God, who by sin art offended, and by re-
pentance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers
of thy people who make supplication to thee,
and turn away the scourges of thy anger,
which we deserve for our sins.
O almighty and eternal God, have mercy on
thy servant (J\T.) our chief Bishop, and direct
him, according to thy clemency, in the way
of everlasting salvation, that by thy grace he
may desire the things that are agreeable to
thy will, and perform them with all his strength.
O God, from whom are all holy desires,
righteous counsels, and just works, give to
thy servants that peace winch the world cannot
give ; that our hearts being disposed to keep
thy commandments, and the fear of enemies
taken away, the times, by thy protection, may
be peaceable.
Inflame, O Lord, our reins and hearts with
the fire of thy holy spirit, that we may serve
thee with a chaste body, and please thee with
a clean heart.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all
the faithful, give to the souls of thy servants
departed the remission of all their sins, that
by pious supplications they may obtain tbe
pardon they have always desired.
Model, we beseech thee, O Lord, our actions
by thy holy inspirations, and carry them on
by thy gracious assistance ; that every prayer
o
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MOTIVES TO
and work of ours may always begin from
thee, and by thee be happily ended.
O almighty and eternal God, who hast
dominion over the living and the dead, and
art merciful to all whom thou foreknowest
shall be thine by faith and good works ; we
humbly beseech thee, that they for whom we
have purposed to offer our prayers, whether
this present world still detains them in the
flesh, or the next world hath already received
them, divested of their bodies, may, by the
clemency of thine own goodness, and the
intercession of thy saints, obtain pardon and
full remission of all their sins ; through our
Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth
with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end.
R. Amen.
V. May the Lord be with you :
R. And with thy spirit.
Y. May the almighty and merciful Lord
graciouly hear us : R. Amen.
V. May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace :
R. Amen.
MOTIVES
Which should excite us to support the Crosses of this
Life with cheerfulness , and to persevere till death in
the practice of Virtue .
Since all things co-operate for the good of those who
love God, and as God knows how to produce good out of
evil, for whom should he do it, if not for those who give
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PERSEVERANCE IN VIRTUE. 159
themselves up to him without reserve? Nay, he even
makes their past sins contribute towards their good, as
is evident in the cases of David, St. Peter, and Mary
Magdalen.
When God lays the filth and deformity of sin before our
eyes, it is in order that we should be captivated with the
beauty of virtue ; if he cast us flat on the earth, as he did
St. Paul, it is with a view to raise us up again to a higher
pitch of glory.
If God were not actually our Father, he never would
have commanded us to say, “ Our Father, who art in
heaven.” What then have the children of such a father
to fear ? Without his permission not a single hair of our
heads can fall to the ground P Since, therefore, we are
the children of almighty God, is it not the most unaccount-
able folly in us, to be over solicitous about any other
concern than that of persevering till death, in his love and
service ? The test of our love towards God, is the observ-
ance of his commandments ; and its recompence, no less
than the possession of himself. “If any one love me,”
saith Jesus Christ, (John, xiv. 23.) “ he will keep my
word, and my Father will love him, and we will come
unto him, and make our abode with him.”
“ When I sent you without scrip or staff,” saith Christ to
his apostles, “ did you want any thing P” They answered,
“ No.” Have we not suffered afflictions when as yet we
had little or no confidence in God, and did we perish
under these afflictions P No. How, then, can we entertain
thoughts of despondency, or betray a want of courage in
adversity P For if Goa hath hitherto protected us, not-
withstanding the little or no reliance we had on his
providence, can it be supposed that he will forsake us,
when, placing our whole confidence in him, we put on
the determined resolution of dedicating the remainder of
our lives to his love and service P Ah ! no, he assuredly
will not. Why, then, should we perplex ourselves with
apprehensions of future evils, which perhaps will never
befal us ? or on the supposition they did, will not God
enable us by his grace to support them with Christian for-
titude P He commanded St. Peter to walk to him on the
water ; Peter, terrified by the blustering of the wind am
the turbulence of the waves, and under the dreadful appre-
hension of immediately sinking to the bottom, calls out to
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DEVOTIONS, ETC.
his divine Master for assistance. When God, in like
manner, ordains that yon should walk on the boisterous
waves of adversity, take courage and fear not; for be
assured, he is actually present, and will stretch forth his
hand to your assistance, as he aid to St. Peter.
Our condition in this short and fleeting life, is an object
of little consequence, provided that in the end we are
admitted to the eternal enjoyment of God and his glory.
Do we not, at every step we tread, approach nearer and
nearer to eternity ? Nay, have we not our feet, for aught
we know to the contrary, on the very brink of it this
moment ? What, therefore, doth it signify whether our
pilgrimage through life be chequered with afflictions or
not, provided it terminate in a happy eternity ? Can we
possibly repine under short-lived sufferings, whilst we await
their recompence in never-ending consolations ? Ah ! what-
ever has not eternity for its object, is, in reality, nothing
but fleeting vanity.
Awake, therefore, 0 my soul ! u Let us cast off the
works of darkness, and put on the armour of light.” Let
us humbly beseech the Father of mercies and God of all
comfort, who consoleth us in all our afflictions, to inspire
us with the same sentiments as the Apostle had when he
exclaimed, “ Far be it from me, that I should glory in any
thing but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ah! were
the cross of our crucified Saviour but deeply implanted in
our hearts, the most bitter crosses of tnis world would
then appear as sweet as roses. The heart that is impressed
with a lively sense of the crown of thorns which pierced
the tender head of our suffering Redeemer, will reel but
little or no pain from the trifling scratches of worldly
afflictions.
DEYOTIONS
FOR EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK.
It was an ancient and pious practice among the faithful
to dedicate every day in the week to some particular devo-
tion. Conformably with this custom, a prayer is here
given for each of those days, to be said immediately after
morning prayers, or at any other time of the day, as each
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DEVOTIONS FOR SUNDAY.
161
person’s leisure from the necessary occupations of his
state of life, may permit. But it is to be observed, that
the worship of the mystery ? or the devotion to the saint
we purpose to honour, consists less in the prayer itself,
than in the practical instructions which it contains.
SUNDAY,
Which by way of pre-eminence over the rest of the days
of the week, is called the day of the Lord? is happily
chosen to render homage, in a more special manner,
to the most Holy Trinity, and to thank those three
adorable Persons for the inestimable blessings we have
received. It would be irreligious therefore, if not
impious, to spend this day in idle amusements, or in
the management of temporal concerns, whilst we are
strictly obliged, both by the precepts of God and his
church, to sanctify it, as well as every holy-day of
obligation, by assisting at the divine offices, hearing
sermons or catechetical discourses, reading pious books,
employing ourselves in the exercise of corporal or
spiritual works of mercy, and especially in making solid
reflections on the most important of all affairs — the affair
of our eternal salvation.
A PRAYER TO THE HOLY TRINITY.
Glory be to the F ather, who by his almighty
power hath created me, and made me to his
own image and likeness. Glory be to the
Son, who by his wisdom hath delivered me
from hell, and opened for me the gates of
heaven. Glory be to the Holy Ghost, who
in his mercy hath sanctified me by baptism,
and who incessantly worketh my sanctifica-
tion by the fresh graces I daily receive from
his bounty. Glory be to the three adorable
Persons of the blessed Trinity, which was as
great at the beginning as he now is, or will
be for ever and ever.
o 2
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162 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY.
We adore thee, O holy Trinity ! we reverence
thee; we thank thee with the humblest sen-
timents of gratitude, for having been pleased
to reveal to us this glorious and incomprehen-
sible mystery. Grant that, by persevering in
this faith till death, we may see and glorify
in heaven what we believe here below on
earth: one God in three divine Persons, the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
MONDAY.
Although the three adorable Persons of the blessed
Trinity, concur unanimously in the sanctification of our
souls, our spiritual regeneration, and all the graces we
receive from heaven, are, nevertheless, attributed more
especially to the operations of the Holy Ghost ; because
these favours being the effects of God’s love towards us,
we acknowledge him as the author of them, who is the
love of the Father and the Son.
It is inconceivable what blessed effects this divine Spirit
produces in the souls of such persons as oppose no
obstacles to his operations. What abundance of light
and strength doth ne not communicate by his seven girts,
and those fruits and beatitudes which peculiarly flow
from his bounty, if, with fidelity and attention, we are
docile to his inspirations !
Let us then rejoice at being under the conduct of so wise
and beneficent a guide ; let us continually study the
motions of our hearts ; let us follow those which the
Holy Spirit produces, and which alone can vanquish
every evil inclination excited in us, either by the cor-
ruptness of our nature, or the machinations of our
spiritual enemy ; let us dread nothing so much as to
resist, or desire nothing so much as to preserve his
{grace ; or, if we have incurred the misfortune of losing
it by sin, let us have immediate recourse to the sacra-
ment of reconciliation, by which we may regain it, and
live more attentive to our spiritual welfare in future.
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DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 163
▲ PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST.
Author of the sanctification of our souls —
Spirit of Love and Truth ! I adore thee as the
primary source of my eternal happiness ; I thank
thee as the sovereign dispenser of the benefits
I receive from on high ; I invoke thee as the
beneficent giver of that portion of light and
strength, which thou knowest to be necessary
for me in the practice of good works. Spirit
of Wisdom ! enlighten my understanding, fortify
my will, purify my heart, regulate all its
motions, and grant me an attentive docility to
all thy holy inspirations.
Pardon, O Spirit of Grace and Mercy !
pardon my continual infidelities, and the un-
worthy blindness with which I have so often
refused to correspond with the most tender and
moving inspirations of thy grace. I purpose
for the future, with thy assistance, to cease to
be rebellious, and to follow the motions of thy
grace with so much docility, that I may be
enabled to taste those fruits, and enjoy those
beatitudes, which are produced in our souls by
the influence of thy sacred gifts. Amen.
TUESDAY.
Wr ought to have such profound sentiments of respect,
gratitude, love, and confidence, towards our Guardian
Angels, as the dignity of their nature, their tender care
of us, and the solicitude they conceive for our welfare,
require. Let us then incessantly invoke their assist-
ance ; let us consult them in all our undertakings ; let
us frequently beseech them to procure the joint inter-
cession of the heavenly host, their companions in glory,
in our behalf; but? above all, let us be particularly
docile to their holy inspirations.
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164 DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY.
A PRAYER TO OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL.
O holy Angel, whom God, by the effect
of his goodness, and the tender regard of my
welfare, hath charged with the care of my
conduct ; who doth assist me in all my wants,
and comfort me in all my afflictions; who
supporteth me when I am discouraged, and
continually obtaineth for me new favours ;
I return, thee profound thanks, and conjure
thee, most amiable protector ! to continue thy
charitable care and defence of me against the
malignant attacks of all my enemies. Keep me
at a distance from all occasions of sin. Obtain
forme the grace of hearkening attentively to thy
holy inspirations, and of faithMly reducing them
to practice. Protect me in all the temptations
and trials of this life, hut more especially at
the hour of death ; and do not quit me till
thou hast conducted me into the presence of my
Creator, in the mansions of everlasting happiness.
Amen.
WEDNESDAY.
The glorious functions wherewith God honoured Saint
Joseph in this world, and the rare examples of humility,
wisdom, patience, fidelity, obedience, and submission,
which he hath given us, should inspire us with the
highest idea of his sanctity, and the greatest devotion
towards him. Honour him, therefore, but more especi-
ally by a faithful imitation of his virtues. Have recourse
to him with confidence, and inspire this confidence into
others. St. Teresa assures us, that she never asked
any favour of God in his name but what she obtained.
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DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY.
165
▲ PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH.
Illustrious Saint ! who art that good and
faithful servant, to whom God committed the
care of his family ; whom he appointed guardian
and protector of the life of Jesus Christ, the
comfort and support of his holy Mother, and
co-partner in his great design of the redemption
of mankind ; thou who hadst the happiness of
living with Jesus and Mary, and of dying in
their arms ; chaste spouse of the Mother of
God ; model and patron of pure souls ; humble,
patient, and reserved ; be moved with the
confidence we place in thy intercession, and
accept with kindness this testimony of our
devotion.
We give thanks to God for the signal favours
he hath been pleased to confer on thee, and
we ^conjure him by thy intercession, to make us
imitate thy virtues. Pray for us, then, O great
saint ; and by that love which thou hadst for
Jesus and Mary, and by the love which Jesus
and Mary had for thee, obtain for us the in-
comparable happiness of living and dying in
the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen.
THURSDAY.
In order to make some return to that boundless love, of
which Jesus Christ has given us a testimony in the
institution of the blessed Sacrament of the altar, let
us unite ourselves to him by holy and frequent com-
munion. Let us often pay him our homage under
the sacramental veils. Let us, at least, never omit a
Thursday without acquitting ourselves of this consoling
duty. Let us sometimes present ourselves in the most
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166 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY.
profound sentiments of adoration, before him, as did
the Shepherds and the Eastern Kings or Ma^i. Let
us, at other times, go to hear and receive his instruc-
tions, in imitation of his apostles and disciples. Let
us approach him, like Magdalen, to contemplate his
admirable perfections, and weep bitterly over our sins.
Let us again present ourselves before him, after the
example of the sick man in the gospel, to be healed
from our spiritual infirmities ; or, like the poor, to
disclose to him our wants, and demand those comforts
and graces which our doubts, or the tribulations and
crosses incidental to human life, may require. But on
all or every one of these occasions, be careful to pre-
sent thyself before him with that profound degree of
modesty, recollection, respect, fear, love, gratitude and
confidence, which a lively faith of his real presence in
this most blessed sacrament seldom fails to produce.
▲ PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
Sweet Jesus ! O amiable Saviour ! wbo,
by an effect of thy infinite goodness and love,
hast vouchsafed to remain really present
amongst us in the adorable Sacrament of the
altar; 1 acknowledge thee for my Sovereign
Lord and God; I adore thee with the most
profound sentiments of humility ; I give thee
thanks, from the bottom of my heart, for the
numberless instances of thy love and tenderness
towards me, a most wretched and miserable
sinner, who, for my manifold offences, have
rather deserved to be cast into the infernal
abyss, and there punished according to the
rigour of thy severest justice. Penetrated with
grief at the sight of my ingratitude, I come,
O God of Majesty ! to crave pardon for all the
profanations, sacrileges, and impieties which
ever have been committed, or may be committed
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DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY.
16T
against thee, in this adorable sacrament. And
0 that 1 could sufficiently express the grief
which I now feel, for having so often appeared
before thee with irreverence, and so often ap-
proached thee with so little fervour and devotion.
Forget, O Lord, our iniquities, and remember
only thy mercies. Accept my sincere desire to
honour, and see thee honoured, in this admirable
sacrament of thy love. Yes, I ardently desire
to bless, praise, and adore thee therein, with
as much love and fervour as the saints and
angels bless, praise, and adore thee, encircled
with the rays of ineffable glory in thy heavenly
kingdom. O amiable Jesus! I conjure thee
by thy precious body and blood, before which
1 now prostrate myself, that I may adore thee
for the future with such reverence, and receive
thee so worthily, as to deserve after death to
be admitted into thy divine presence, and with
the choirs of celestial spirits, praise and glorify
thee for ever and ever. Amen.
FRIDAY.
It is not sufficient that we carefully avoid whatever can
renew the passion and death of our divine Redeemer ,
but we must also endeavour to honour them, by every
pious exercise which a tender devotion can inspire.
The holy sacrifice of the Mass, offered with this inten-
tion ; fervent communion ; prayer before a crucifix ;
frequent reflections on the sufferings of our Lord ;
voluntary acts of penance, such as fasting on Fridays ;
patience and perseverance under the inevitable troubles
and afflictions of this life ; or, in other words, carrying
our cross, after the example of our divine Itedeemer,
and with the same intentions ; 'will serve as so many
pious practices, by which we may testify the excess of
our love, and apply to ourselves the fruit of his passion.
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DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY.
A PRAYER TO OUR SUFFERING JESUS.
Lamb without spot or blemish ! — in-
nocent Victim ! whose blood has cancelled the
sins of the world, efface mine, and do not
permit thy sufferings to become useless to
me. Jesus, deserted and forsaken by every
body! Jesus, sorrowful and aggrieved! Jesus,
agonized, patient, and resigned ! help me to
bear, with the like resignation, all the afflictions
thou mayest be pleased to send me in this life.
Jesus, calumniated, despised, and outrageously
insulted ! teach me to despise the judgments of
men, and patiently to suffer the blackest
calumnies. Jesus, whose virginal flesh was
swollen with blows, mangled with wounds,
pierced with thorns, and covered with blood
for love of me ! teach me to endure, for thy
love, the pains and inconveniencies of sickness.
Jesus, condemed to suffer the ignominious
death of the cross ! enable me to shun the
praises of men, and to love the most humble
situations. Jesus, bending beneath the heavy
load of the cross ! unite my cross to thine, and
enable me to bear it with the like resignation,
strength, and meekness. Jesus, elevated on the
cross for my sake, and who expiredst thereon for
my salvation ! raise up my affections to heavenly
desires, that living only for thee, and at length
expiring in thy divine embraces, I may be for
ever occupied in singing, forth thy praises.
Amen.
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DEVOTIONS FOB SATURDAY.
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SATURDAY.
The eminent holiness of Mary, her dignity as Mother of
God, the glory she enjoys, and the power she has
received on earth and in heaven, her tenderness for
mankind, and more especially for such as seek her
intercession, or imitate her virtues, are the motives
which have inspired all the saints with the most lively
and affectionate devotion towards her.
Let us also devote ourselves to her, after their example.
u Devotion to the Blessed Virgin,” (says St. Bernard,)
u is a mark of predestination. The best devotion we
can practise with regard to her, and that which is most
strenuously recommended by the saints, is a faithful
imitation of her excellent virtues ; particularly her love
of purity and humility, and that heroic patience and
fortitude under the severest crosses and afflictions which
she snffered, and wherewith almost her whole life was
embittered.
Let us therefore celebrate her festival, by preparing our-
selves on the eve, and communicating on the day, in her
honour. Let us pay to her images and pictures that
respect and veneration which the Catholic church, ever
guided by the Spirit of Truth, recommends. Let us
sometimes recite her office, at other times her litanies
or rosary, according as the duties of our state of life
may afford us leisure, or our devotion direct. Let us
often address her with the utmost respect, attention,
and confidence, in the words of that beautiful prayer,
composed partly by the Angel Gabriel, partly by St.
Elizabeth, and partly by the church, and with the same
spirit and sentiments. In fine let us have recourse to
her in all our wants and necessities, and omit nothing to
procure her assistance at that most critical period, when
we stand in most need thereof— the hour of death.
A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
Most Holy Virgin ! Mother of God ; and,
by that august quality, worthy of the most
profound respect from angels and men, I come
to render thee my most humble homages, and to
p
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1T0 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY.
implore thv help and protection. Seated above
the heavenly hosts of saints and angels, next
the throne of the Almighty, thou art most
powerful, and thy goodness towards mankind
equals the power thou hast in heaven.
Thou knowest, O most sacred Virgin, that I
have been taught from my infancy to look up
to thee as my mother, my patroness, and most
powerful advocate; and thou hast vouchsafed
from on high, to look down on me as one of thy
children. I acknowledge, with the most humble
sentiments of gratitude, that it is by the means
of thy most powerful intercession I have re-
ceived such innumerable graces and favours
from the Almighty. Why then has not the
fervour of my devotion towards thee been equal
to thy zeal in succouring me in my necessities ?
Alas ! the sense of my ingratitude overwhelms
me with shame and confusion ; hut accept, O
amiable Queen, of my determined resolution to
love, honor and serve thee with more fidelity
for the future.
Receive, then, O sacred Virgin, the protesta-
tion I now make of being hereafter entirely
thine. Accept the unshaken confidence which
I place in thy clemency and goodness. Obtain
for me, most powerful advocate with thy dear
Son, my Saviour, (who can refuse thee nothing
that is conducive to my salvation,) a lively
faith, a firm hope, and a generous, tender, and
constant love. Procure for me such a purity
of soul and body as nothing can defile or con-
taminate ; such a profound humility as nothing
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PIOUS REFLECTIONS, ETC. 1T1
can alter or change; and such patience and
submission to the will of heaven, as nothing
can perplex or disturb. Lastly, most blessed
Virgin, obtain for me such a faithful imitation
of thyself, in the practice of every virtue, during
life, as may procure for me thy powerful aid
and protection at the hour of death. Amen.
The following short ejaculatory Prayer to the BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY, has been recommended and expe-
rienced by many as an excellent preventative against
impure temptations.
Through thy sacred virginity and imma-
culate conception, O most chaste Virgin, obtain
for me purity of soul and body ; in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen.
PIOUS REFLECTIONS
FOE EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH.
Translated from the French of the Rev . F. Bouhours.
The following reflections, on acccount of their con-
ciseness and simplicity, require neither much time nor
application to be read and understood. They do not
merely regard the social duties of mankind, like those
of Epictetus or Seneca ; they are Christian thoughts on the
important truths of religion, and the most elevated max-
ims of the gospel. They are not only adapted for such as,
by retirement, are familiarized to the practice of mental
prayer; but likewise for those who, from their secular
occupations, are as yet but little versed in the use of
meditation. Even worldlings are still capable of sometimes
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PIOUS REFLECTIONS FOR
elevating their thoughts to heaven ; for, in whatever occu-
pations persons may be engaged, they may always find
sufficient leisure for a short lecture. If the multiplicity
or urgency of the concerns of this life will not afford you
sufficient time for regular meditation, you may at least
suffer a good thought to take possession of your mind,
before the business of the day is entered upon. Such is
the design of these short reflections; and tne method of
using them is as follows : — Every day in each month, after
having acquitted yourself of the indispensable duty of
morning prayer, place yourself again in the presence of
God, and read tne Thoughts of the Day ; but in order that
you may the better comprehend their meaning, read them
with deliberation, and the most profound attention. After
reading the first article, allow yourself a short interval for
reflection before you pass on to the second. Do not rest
satisfied with barely conceiving the truth of the maxim you
read; but after ruminating seriously upon it, apply it to
yourself ; and observe the same rule with the second and
third articles. But should the urgency of business allow
you but sufficient leisure merely to read them, be satisfied,
under the assurance that pious thoughts have the same effect
on the soul, as a seal has upon melted wax ; for, should
they enter but ever so slightly into the mind, they will
always leave some impression behind. If you cannot find
leisure to read these Thoughts in the morning, read them
at least in the course of the day, or at night before you
go to bed. The Practical Resolutions immediately follow-
ing the Thoughts, must not be omitted. An act of virtue,
or a short reflection, is soon made.
The passages from the holy Scriptures and Fathers, at
the close of the Reflections, are, as it were, an abridg-
ment or abstract of the Thoughts of the. Day;
collect, as in a focus, their whole strength and sense in
a few words. Being short and concise, they are easily
remembered ; being pithy and affecting, they are happily
calculated to rouse, support, and nourish the soul through-
out the course of the aay. They are as grains of essence,
which contain a strong and fragrant odour within a small
compass ; or as an ingenious piece of mechanism, which
can execute a great deal of work in a very little time. Be
not content with reading these reflections once over ; but
read them over and over again, month after month, till
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EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH. 1T3
by making a lasting impression on the mind, you may reap
all the spiritual advantages they are capable of producing;
for there is always something new to be found in the
truths of religion; they are mines which cannot be too
deeply dug into; they are fountains whose sources are
inexhaustible ; but they are also seeds which produce little
or no fruit, unless they take root by being deeply planted
in the heart.
First Day,— On Faith.
1. All that Faith teaches is grounded on the
authority of the word of God. It is from Christ
himself that the church has learned whatever
she proposes to the faithful as the object of
their belief. When truth itself is the guide,
one cannot go astray ; and there is nothing more
reasonable than to submit reason to faith.
2. Of what use is faith to a Christian, if it be
not the rule of his conduct ? If it be the most
consummate folly to doubt of a doctrine which
God has revealed, which so many martyrs have
sealed with their blood, and which the devils
themselves have so often confessed, is it not
downright madness to believe this doctrine, and
yet to live as if it were supposed to be false ?
Not to live conformable to our belief, is to
believe just as the damned do.
o. Faith, then, shall henceforth be the sole
principle of my actions, and the only rule of my
life. Whatever it condemns, I also absolutely
condemn. In spite of every natural repugnance,
I will oppose the maxims of the gospel to those
of the world, as often as the occasion presents
itself. What does the world say ? — Follow the
natural bent of your inclinations, suffer nothing,
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&c. But what doth Jesus Christ say? — quite
the contrary. But who is right — Jesus Christ
or the world ?
Thank God for being incorporated with his church, and
recite the Creed slowly, as a solemn profession of your
faith.
“ Lord increase my faith.” Luke, xvii.
“ What doth it avail to believe like a Catholic,
and yet to live like a heathen ?” Peter Dam.
Second Day.— On the End of Man.
1. God alone is our last end; he did not
create us but for himself. Our hearts tell us
that we were made for him ; we cannot disown
it without belying ourselves.
2. Every one should have what justly belongs
to him ; let us then give ourselves to God, since
it is he that has a right to us. If we be not his
children of our own accord, we must be his
slaves in spite of us. We must of necessity
live under the dominion of his justice or his
bounty. Which choice shall we make ?
3. Every thing should tend to its proper
object, and act according to its nature. If the
sun, which is made to shine, refused its light
to the world, it would be a monster in the
universe ; nor is that heart less monstrous,
which, being made for God, doth still refuse to
belong to him. Do I behave myself as a crea-
ture which belongs to God ? Are my thoughts
and all my actions directed to him ? Ah, how
little do I do, that may be called truly done
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EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH. 1T5
for God ? What doth all the business in this
world avail me, if I forget the only affair for
which I am come into it.
Make here a resolution of seeking God alone, and of
depriving him of nothing which he has a right to.
“ Thou art my Lord and my God.” John , xx.
“ He requires you entirely, who hath made
you entirely.” St, Augustine .
Third Day, — Contempt of the World.
1. From the moment we are attached to
the world, we cease, in some measure, to he
Christians. This profane world, so passionately
fond of grandeur, of pleasure, of every thing
that can flatter self-love, is the capital enemy
of Jesus Christ ; their maxims, their command-
ments, their interests, are quite Opposite ; they
cannot be obeyed at once, we must break off
either with one or with the other.
2. We cannot take part with the world,
without a breach of the promises we made at
our baptism. When we renounced Satan and
his pomps, we bound ourselves down, by solemn
oath, to trample under foot whatever is greatest
in the esteem of worldlings. What perfidy !
what sacrilege ! to prefer the goods of the earth
to those of heaven, and to become idolaters of
vanity.
3. The world has nothing worthy of an
immortal soul ; it has not even wherewith to
requite its most devoted servants. Its treasures,
its amusements, its honors, may indeed occupy
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and disturb the heart of man, but they can
never satisfy it. They are, in reality, but false
goods, vain shadows, and illusions ; or, to speak
more properly, they are real evils. They make
a man wicked; they can never make him
happy. The most brilliant fortune is not only
frail and dangerous, but is often a source of
the most painful uneasiness. There are sighs
and sufferings upon the throne, as well as in
chains and dungeons.
Beg of God to destroy in you the spirit of the world,
and give you strength to despise its allurements.
“ The figure of the world passeth away.” —
1 Cor . vii.
“Wo to those who adhere to what is transi-
tory ; because with those things they themselves
must pass away.” St. Augustine.
Fourth Day . — Upon Death. .
1. A Christian who does not lead the life
of a Christian, has great reason to he afraid of
death. What a dreadful account must he give
after a worldly and sensual life! what bitter
regret to have lost the opportunities of saving
himself! to die an enemy of God! O dismal
death ! O dreadful moment, which concludes
the pleasures of time, to begin the pains of
eternity.
2. What would we, at the hour of death,
wish that we had done P Let us do at present
what we would then be glad we had done.
There is no time to lose : every moment may
be the last of our life. The longer we have
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EVEBY DAY IN THE MONTH. ITT
lived, the nearer we approach to the grave.
Our death is not less distant, the more it has
been put off.
3. What will our notion of this earth he,
when we are forced to quit it ? Let us now take
advice from death ; it is a faithful counsellor ;
it will not deceive us. What will become of
this beauty, this money, this pleasure, this
honour ? What will be our thoughts of them
at the hour of death? In our life-time ap-
pearances often deceive us ; but at our death
we shall see things as they really are. Man,
whilst alive, esteems the world ; man when
dying despises it. But which should we
reasonably believe — man living, or man at the
point of death ? Ah ! how trifling will the
world appear at the light of that torch which
faintly glimmers near the bed of death ! But
alas ! it will then be no longer time to undeceive
ourselves.
Think seriously on what you chiefly apprehend were
you this moment to die, and regulate it immediately.
Accustom yourself from this moment, to perform every
action, as if you were to die instantly after it. Above all
things, observe this practice in the use of the sacraments.
“ Death and I are divided but a single step.”
1 King 8> xx.
“There is no to-morrow for a Christian.”
Tertullian.
Fifth Day. —Ok the Last Judgment.
1. 1 must one dag appear before the tribunal
of Jesus Christy to be there judged upon the
good or evil I shall have done . There is
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nothing more formal nor express in the gospel
than this truth ; I believe it as firmly as if the
last trumpet had already sounded to call up all
the dead to judgment.
2. What shall we say at the sight of so many
bad thoughts, of so many criminal actions, of
so many graces despised ? O what a terrible
day is the day of God’s wrath ! where the
inmost recesses of the heart shall be openly
exposed ; where every fault shall be strictly
examined ! If the just themselves shall be
hardly found just, what must become of un-
happy sinners.
3. What sentence must an impenitent sinner
expect from an offended and inexorable God ?
O tremendous condemnation ! Depart ye ac-
cursed, Alas ! where shall these miserable
wretches go, to whom you thus give your
malediction ? To what part of the world shall
they retire when they withdraw from you ?
Where can there be so miserable a dwelling ?
To be banished from the presence of God !
to be accursed of God ! O what a shocking
destiny !
Imagine yourself now before the tribunal of Christ.
What are you most ashamed of at this very moment ?
Reflect seriously on it, and remember that all your secret
sins shall be exposed at the day of Judgment, if you do not
here efface them by a sincere repentance.
“ Who shall be able to stand before the face
of his wrath ?” Nahum , i.
“ Wo even to the praiseworthy life, if
without mercy, O God, thou shalt examine it.”
'• Augustine .
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EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH. 1T9
Sixth Day . — Upon Hell.
1. How great would be our horror, if the
shrieks of the damned — if their groans and
blasphemies could reach us ! They roar like
wild beasts; they accuse themselves of their
sins ; they bewail — they detest them. But it is
too late ; their tears but add new strength to
the fire that torments them. O repentance of
the damned ! how rigorous art thou ! but ah !
how fruitless !
Never to see God ! to be burning in flames
for ever! the blood boiling in our veins, the
marrow in our bones ! to be trampled on by
the devils ! to have all that is hideous for ever
before our eyes! to have rage, anguish, and
despair eternally rooted . in our heart, without
comfort or mitigation ! O what a life !
3. These wretches are outrageous at having
had so many opportunities of saving themselves,
and for having neglected them. The recollec-
tion of their past pleasure is one of their most
sensible torments. But nothing more keenly
gnaws them, than the impossibility of forgetting
that God whom by their fault, they have
miserably forfeited.
Go down in spirit into hell, and inquire of the damned
what is it that has made them fall into it. Question them
upon their present state, and learn of them to fear God
and your own danger.
“ Which of you can dwell with devouring
flames.” Isaiah , xxxiii.
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“ The impious pass from one punishment to
another — from the burnings of concupiscence
to the flames of hell.” St. Augustine.
Seventh Day. — On the Eternal Torments of the
Damned.
1. Can the wrath of God go farther than
punishing pleasures which are so soon over, by
tortures which will never have an end ? To he
miserable while ever God is God! — can any
misery he like it? Is it not enough that the eviis
of the damned are extreme ? Must they still,
besides this, he eternal ? To be hurt by the
point of a pin, is trifling in itself; yet were this
pain to last always, it would become insupport-
able : What shall it he then , c f-c.
2. O eternity! when a damned soul shall
have shed tears enough to make up all the rivers
and seas in the world, did he shed but one
tear in every hundred years, he shall not he
more advanced, after so many millions of ages,
than if he had only just began to suffer. He
must begin again, as if he had yet suffered
nothing; and when he shall have begun as
often as there are grains of sand on the sea-
shore, or atoms in the air, or leaves on the
trees, he shall still be as far off from the end of
his sufferings as ever.
3. The damned must not only suffer during
eternity, but suffer every moment an eternity
entire. Eternity is always present to them ; it
enters into their punishment ; their mind is
incessantly struck with the endless duration of
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EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH. 181
their torments. O cruel thought ! O deplorable
condition ! — to rage for an eternity ! — to bum
for an eternity ! Ah, that we could conceive
this, as those damned souls conceive it.
Make an act of faith upon the duration of the punish-
ments which the justice of God inflicts for mortal sin.
We must at least believe, what we are not able to conceive.
It is a great misfortune for a Christian not to be persuaded
of this eternity, but by his own sad experience.
“ Those who do not obey the gospel, shall
suffer eternal punishment.” 2 Thes. i.
“ Momentary is that which delights, eternal
is that which tortures.” St, Chrysostom ,
Eighth Day. —On Heaven.
1. Heaven ! thou glorious state ! no heart
can conceive, no tongue can describe what thou
art ! Exemption from all that is evil ; assem-
blage of all that is good ; masterpiece of God’s
omnipotence ; the price of the blood of Jesus ;
and more than man can desire.
2. To see God clearly, and as he is in his
glory ; to love God without measure ; to possess
God without ever fearing to lose him ; to be
happy in the felicity of God himself; such is
the object of my hope. But a day or two of
pilgrimage or exile, and then I shall be with
him for ever.
3. What matters it how we fare here below,
provided we be with Jesus for all eternity?
Can I justly complain that a never-ending
happiness should cost me so little ? The martyrs
purchased heaven at the price of their blood,
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and thought it was given them for nothing.
Shall not T then sacrifice my corrupt will for it?
O happy eternity ! if men only knew what thou
art worth.
Excite within yourself a great desire of heaven, and
behold the earth with a proportionable contempt. Were
you filled with a proper sense of it, nothing here below
could allure or disturb you.
“ I shall he satisfied when thy glory shall
appear.” Psalm xvi.
“ If the labour terrifies, the reward invites.”
St. Bernard .
Ninth Day. — On the Presence of God.
1. God at this moment beholds me, as if I
were alone in the world ; or rather, he is within
me as an eye infinitely enlightened, which
observes me attentively, and which nothing
can escape. He sees me as clearly as he
comprehends himself, and with as intense an
application, as if he ceased to contemplate
himself, in order to study me.
2. Ought I not to be infinitely more ashamed
that my sins should appear in his sight, than
that they should be exposed to the eyes of the
whole world ? W ould I commit in the presence
of a servant, what I dare commit before the
King of kings ? O what blindness to fear so
much the eyes of men, and so little the eyes of
God!
3. The most obscure darkness can never
conceal me from light itself ; the most distant
and solitary retreats are always filled with the
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divine Majesty. Let me shun, as much as I
please, the sight and the company of men, I
will find God every where.
Put yourself in the presence of God, and see whether
there may be any thing in you that may offend his eyes.
The most powerful remedy against sin, is to say frequently
within yourself, “ God is looking at me there needs no
more to restrain you in the greatest violence of tempta-
tion.
“ All things are clear and open to his eyes.”
Hebrews, iv.
“ If you be determined to commit sin, seek
first a place where God will not see you, and
then do what you please.” St* Augustine.
Tenth Day . — Care of our Salvation.
1. The affair of Salvation is, properly
speaking, the only business of man ; every other
concern, when compared with it, should be
accounted as nothing. The enterprises of kings,
their negociations, &c., are as the amusements
and the triflings of children. The important
and the only affair, therefore, is to serve God,
and thereby save our souls : the whole good —
the whole perfection of man consists in this.
It would be irrational, and therefore degrading
to man, to neglect an affair whose consequences
are so great, whose success is so uncertain,
and whose loss is irreparable. What blindness !
what folly ! to think only of living, and not to
think of living well ! to apply so much time to
making our fortune, and so little to the saving
of our soul ! “ What doth it avail a man to
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gain the whole world, if he lose his own
soul ? n
2. All creatures are made hut for our salva-
tion ; they become useless when not employed
for that great end : so that from the moment a
man ceases to labour for his salvation, the sun
also should cease to shine, the planets should
stop in their course, the earth should no longer
support him, the angels should abandon him ;
he should fall back into his original nothing.
He is unworthy of life, when he liveth not for
God.
3. However, the greater part of mankind
think less of saving themselves than of any
thing else. Every other business is carefully
attended to, except the affair of salvation.
All other concerns are turned to account. This
sum of money must be put out to interest ; this
field must be tilled ; these lands must he let at
a more considerable rent. All other losses are
bewailed, except the one without resource.
Great expences are incurred for the body, and
nothing at all is done for the soul s from the
manner in which we live, it should seem that
our soul does not really belong to us, but that
it is the soul of our most mortal enemy, or the
soul of some brute ; or rather, that we have a
soul just merely to destroy it.
Make now a firm resolution to save your soul, let it cost
you what pains it will : be of the same sentiment with a
certain pontiff, who, when a king had asked something of
him, which could not be granted without sin, replied: " If
I had two souls, I would give one of them to thee^ O
Prince, but as 1 have only one, I do not chose to forfeit it.”
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“ Moreover, one thing is necessary.” Luke , x.
" Where there is the loss of salvation, there
surely there can be no gain.” St. Euch .
Eleventh Day.— On Horror for Sin.
1. How great a loss is the loss of God ! Men
think themselves unfortunate when they lose all
their possession at law, or by bankruptcy, or
by some other accident. What is it, then, to
lose an infinite God ! Unhappy the soul which
loses its God by sin ; but far more unhappy
the soul who considers this loss as nothing.
2. O sin ! how common art thou among men!
but how little at the same time art thou known
to them ! Playing and amusing themselves,
they become the execration of God. And what
play — what amusement is this ? God, who is
all love, detests sin with infinite hatred s should
any thing, therefore, be so shocking in our eyes
as this hellish monster.
3. A soul in the state of grace, is beautiful
beyond expression ! it is a brilliant image of
God himself ; the Holy Ghost animates it.
But when mortal sin is allowed to infect it, its
beauty, is lost, its light is extinguished, the
Divine Spirit departs, the devil takes possession ;
all then is darkness, filth, and deformity. If a
God-man dying was a dreadful spectacle,
mortal sin is yet more dreadful ; for Christ
died but to atone for sin, and sin can daily
frustrate all his merits ; he is crucified over and
over ; his blood is trampled upon by ungrateful
sinners.
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O detest at this moment all your sins. Lament from
your heart the loss of God’s grace ; there is no loss so much
to be lamented ; it is the only loss which sorrow can repair.
“ What advantage had you in those things
at which you are now blushing ? ” Romans , vi.
“ Wo to that daring soul, which hoped that
having retired from you, she might still find
something better.” St. Augustine .
Twelfth Day . — On Repentance.
1. “ Kepent, and believe the Gospel.” Our
Lord here joins faith and repentance together,
in order to teach us, that the rigours of penance,
and the profession of Christianity, are in-
separable. During his mortal life he was a
penitent^ God, ever occupied in expiating our
sins, to appease the justice of his eternal Father.
Surely, we should follow his example. If the
Holy of Holies fasted, prayed, and wept, what
should not be done by such vile wretches as we
are?
2. Sin must necessarily he punished, either
by him who commits, or by God, against whom
it is committed. If sinners do not punish them-
selves in time, the Divine Justice will punish
them in eternity. The flames of hell must
punish what the waters of penance have not
effaced. Is it not, therefore, better to weep
for a few days, than to bum for eternity.
3. To be reconciled with God, it is not
enough to prostrate ourselves before a priest,
cover our heads with ashes, and our whole bodies
with hair-cloth. If we have not a sincere
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sorrow for our sins, if we do not entirely re-
nounce our criminal attachments, we are
impostors, and not penitents. Prayers, alms,
fastings, and macerations of the flesh, are hut
the outside of repentance ; the hatred of sin is
its very spirit and essence.
Implore God’s mercy for having hitherto led a life so
opposite to the Gospel : and beg of him the grace to live
for the future as the first Christians did, in the constant
practice of penance.
" Unless you do penance, you shall all perish
alike.” Luke , xiii.
" To penitents, I say, To what purpose is it
that you be humbled, if with this you be not
changed?” St. Augustine.
Thirteenth Day . — On Delay of Conversion.
1. By deferring so long to give myself up to
God, it should seem as if I intended to escape
out of his hand. Is it then a misfortune to
belong to him? To-morrow! to-morrow! —
Why not to-day? why not at this very mo-
ment ? Will my chains be more easily broken
to-morrow ? will my heart be less hard? — No,
certainly. Time, that weakens every thing
else, adds new strength to had habits. By
putting off the remedy, the complaint becomes
incurable.
2. What is it that prevents our obeying the
voice that calls us to repentance ? What is it
that terrifies us ? That there is great difficulty
in changing our lives, must certainly be granted ;
but what should not a Christian do, who adores
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a crucified God, and who looks up to heaven ?
If we have any thing to fear, it should be the
abuse of God’s graces.
3. There is time to come ; but can I call it
mine? Is it a possession I am master of?
God waits for me, it is true — the scriptures
tell me so — but still they do not tell me how
long I am to live. He that promised pardon
to those who repent, has not promised another
day to those who continue in their vices. Per-
haps I shall have time, and perhaps I shall
not. Must not I have lost my senses, to trust
my salvation to a mere perhaps ?
Reflect now upon the time you have been deferring
your conversion to God, and tremble at the sight of your
danger.
“ I said : now I have begun.” Ps. lxxix.
“ We cannot be too cautious, where eternity
is at stake.” St, Greg .
Fourteenth Day . — On Human Respect.
1. What will the world say ? Let it say
what it wills should the talk of fools hinder
you from being wise? But what will my
acquaintance say ? They will say, that you
fear God more than you fear man ; the greatest
libertines will secretly admire you, and acknow-
ledge within themselves that you are doing
right. But what matters it, after all, what
people may say of you, provided you do your
duty, and that God be satisfied ?
2. O what cowardice, to blush at the gospel?
To wear the livery of a prince is held honour-
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able : is it then shameful to wear that of J esus
Christ? The lowest mechanics make open
profession of the trades they follow; and yet
Christians, in the church, blush at being thought
Christians ! The Son of God will deny before
his Father in heaven, the Christian that shall
have denied him before men.
3. What then ? Is there any thing in Jesus
that you should be ashamed of? Is his name
infamous ? Is it a disgrace to follow his maxims
and example? You are not ashamed, perhaps,
of being a libertine, a drunkard, a blasphemer ;
you may probably even glory in it ; and yet
you blush at being a good man. But let people
say what they will, the man that is most
esteemed is he who serves God with most fide-
lity, and who openly professes himself to be a
follower of Christ.
Ask yourself seriously whether this phantom of the
world doth not frighten you, and prevent your fulfilling
the obligations which the Christian religion imposes.
“ I do not blush at the gospel.” Romans, i.
“ Why should you fear or be ashamed, when
armed with the sign of the cross?” St. Aug .
Fifteenth Day. — Diffidence in Ourselves.
1. We have nothing to fear so much as
ourselves. Our own weakness is more alarm-
ing than the united powers of hell. A thought,
a word, a single look is enough to overcome
us. Angels have rebelled, Adam hath fallen.
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Solomon hath bowed to idols, Peter hath denied
his Master. When cedars have yielded, how
shall osiers stand ?
2. Our own heart is our most dangerous
enemy ; our senses and our passions are always
conspiring against us; we are vanquished
almost without a struggle. Let us then never
he so weak or foolish as to trust to ourselves.
Many whom torments could not shake, have
wretchedly perished in a slight temptation:
they were victorious over tyrants, but van-
quished by concupiscence.
3. There is no man, of how exemplary soever
a conduct, that should not tremble at the justice
of God, because he cannot be certain whether
he be worthy of love or hatred. To the all-
seeing eye of Infinite Perfection, the very angels
themselves shall not appear without blemish.
Sanctity may be lost in a single moment, and
the saint may be transformed into an odious
reprobate. We should all, therefore, cry out
with St Philip of Neri : “ Watch me, O Lord,
this day, for abandoned to myself I shall surely
betray thee.”
Beware of the occasions of sin ; the most dangerous are
often what you are least afraid of.
“ Let him who thinks he stands, take heed
lest he fall.” 1 Cor . iv.
“ Though you be in a place of safely, do
not on that account think yourself secure.”
St. Bernard.
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Sixteenth Day . — Use of Divine Grace.
1. Whatever grace we have, was dearly
purchased : our Saviour gave his blood for it.
Wherefore to reject a pious thought, to resist
an holy inspiration, is, in fact, to trample on
the merits of Christ, and to frustrate, as much
as we can, the ends he proposed to himself in
dying for us.
2. We are accountable to God, not only for
the graces we have received, hut also for those
which he intended to confer on us, provided we
ourselves had not put an obstacle to them. His
sun shines, but we shut our windows against
it. Are we the less indebted to him for its
light ? — No ; for we may, if we please, make
use of it.
3. Many years, perhaps, had God been
inviting us in vain; soliciting, reprehending,
and threatening us, to no manner of purpose.
But let us remember, that he is a creditor who
will not thus be put off, and that the longer
our debt is unpaid, the more strictly will he
require the interest. There is possibly a mea-
sure of sins which may force him at last to
abandon us.
Thank the Almighty now for all his gifts and graces.
Beg pardon for having been unfaithful to him, and resolve
to correspond with docility, to all the suggestions of his
grace for the future.
“ From him to whom much hath been given,
much will be required.” Luke , xii.
" Grace is followed by judgment.” St. Basil.
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Seventeenth Day.—G ood Use op Time.
1. The loss of time is one of the greatest
misfortunes in the world. This life is so short !
all its moments so precious ! yet we live as if
it were never to end, or as if we had nothing
to fear hereafter.
2. Alas ! if a damned soul had hut one single
moment of the time we now squander away,
what good use would he make of it ! Every
instant of our life we may purchase a happy
eternity. The opportunity of enriching or
amusing ourselves we never miss; hut the
means of salvation appear to us indifferent.
3. The day that is best employed, is not
always the one that has most forwarded our
temporal affairs, hut that which has added
most to our merits, and which God has been
best pleased with. Let us always so regulate
our time, that God and our salvation may
be our constant objects.
Renew the resolution you have taken to serve God faith-
fully; and be firmly persuaded, that the time which is
not employed for God, is no more than so much time lost
for ever.
“ God hath given to no person time for
sinning.” Eccles . xv.
“ You have leisure to become a philosopher ;
you have none to become a Christian.” St. Paul.
Eighteenth Day .—Use of the Sacraments.
1. The sacraments are the channels of
divine grace; through them the merits of
Christ abundantly flow into our souls. We
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must therefore take care to approach them
worthily; for otherwise his merits will not
avail us, nor will our salvation of course be
possible.
2. The abuse of the sacraments is an evil
of the first magnitude. They were instituted
as the means of life; but, when perverted,
lead to eternal death. There is no medium;
they must he either our food or our poison.
How dreadful then must it be to reflect, that
after so many confessions we should be so
little improved, that after repeated commu-
nions we should still follow the same sinful
course !
3. The unworthy communicant receives his
own condemnation, and becomes, as it were,
incorporated with his own ruin. What answer
can he give when called to account for his
baseness? How shall he hope to escape,
when arraigned for such daring profanations ?
Examine yourself carefully upon the use you have made
of the sacraments^ and receive them for the future, as if
death were immediately approaching.
“ Let a man prove himself.” 1 Cor.
“ There are bad Christians, who are called
by the name of faithful, and who are not such ;
by whom the sacraments of Christ are dis-
honoured and profaned.” St. Augustine.
Nineteenth Day . — On the Mass.
1. A sacrifice is an exterior or visible
offering made by a lawful minister to God
alone, in testimony of his supreme dominion.
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Our absolute dependance on God, and the
homage we owe him, render sacrifice essential
to religion. Hence, from the beginning of the
world it has been always offered : Abel, Noah,
Melchisedech, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
have sacrificed to the Almighty ; and a variety
of sacrifices were prescribed in the written law
of Moses.
2. All these however, were only weak figures
of the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross; for
sin was too great an evil, its guilt was of too
black a die to be ever removed by the blood
of sheep and oxen. No other atonement could
possibly compensate for its enormity, than the
excruciating sufferings of a God ; therefore did
he come. “ In the head of the book it was
written of him, that he should do the will of
his Father.” By the one oblation of himself
he paid off all our debts, closed up the abyss
of separation, cancelled the hand-writing of sin
that lay against us, and the sanctified he
perfected for ever.
3. Was not this enough? Most undoubt-
edly it was ; nay, one drop of his blood was
fully adequate to all these purposes. Why
then is the same sacrifice daily renewed in
the Mass? Why is he still immolated upon
our altars? Why is his body mystically
drained of his blood, by the separate con-
secrations of the two species ? Because his
love for us would have it so ; he would leave
us a standing memorial of his death ; he would
daily apply to our souls the infinite merits
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thereof, just as he prays for us still, though
his prayer on the cross was already heard for
us ; he would, as a priest for ever, accord-
ing to the order of Melchisedech, continue to
the end of time the same unbloody sacrifice;
he was willing that his faithful on earth*
united not only in spirit, but in outward ties of
religion, should ever have this sacrifice before
them, as the strongest bond of love, and the
most perfect act of adoration.
Make a resolution to hear Mass every day, and to hear
it with the devotion which so august a sacrifice requires.
For this purpose go to the church as you would to Mount
Calvary; aaore Jesus Christ in his state of humiliation:
pay him your homage with fervour at the foot of the altar.
It is shameful in us and most displeasing to him, that he
should be so much deserted in the midst of our churches,
and that his court should be so empty, whilst earthly kings
have their levees crowded.
“ In every place there is a sacrifice, and
a pure victim is offered to my name.” Malic . i.
“ He will then be our victim indeed, when
we sacrifice ourselves to him.” St. Greg .
Twentieth Day. — On Alms Deeds.
1. We minister to Christ when we relieve
the poor. He abides in the Eucharist to
receive our adoration, and to become our
nourishment; he abides in the poor to excite
our compassion, and to be fed by us in our
turn. Happy the man who f gives alms to
Jesus ! but wretched is he who refuses to assist
him. Shall we feed our dog, and let Christ
famish with hunger !
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2. What we give to the great ones of the
earth may, in a great measure, he considered
as forfeited: hut what we present to God is
always attended with advantage. He gives it
hack with interest. He repays with liberality
the crumbs that are given for his sake; his
rewards are laid up even for a cup of cold water .
Play, luxury, and debauch, have ruined innu-
merable families, hut alms have impoverished
no one.
3. Men at the day of judgment shall he
accountable for their alms ; hut what answer
can the unfeeling rich ones make when the
poor shall accuse them, when Jesus Christ
himself shall reproach them with their insensi-
bility? “ Go, ye accursed, into eternal fire:
I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat ; I
was naked, and you did not clothe me,” &c.
A heart that is hard to the poor, is the heart
of a reprobate ; hut on the contrary, a soul that
is truly charitable, is a soul predestined. What
can our Judge say against us, when he shall
see our clothes upon himself, when he shall see
our bread and our money in his own hands ?
We shall approach his awful tribunal with con-
fidence, provided the poor be our advocates.
Consider seriously how you behave to the poor ; whether
you treat them as members of Jesus Christ, by doing them
all the good in your power.
“ He gives at interest to the Lord, who has
pity on the poor.” Prov. xix.
“ Give unto all, lest he whom you refuse
should be Jesus Christ.” St. Augustine.
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EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH. 19T
Twenty-first Day . — On Bad Example.
1. Bad example has damned more souls than
the preaching and good example of all the saints
together have been the means of saving.
2. Were the gates of hell to he laid open,
scarcely would any one he found that would
not say, it is such or such-a-one that has damned
me. O what a reproach ! We are commanded
to love our enemies: why then should we
destroy souls which have never done us an
injury? A man who has been unfortunate
enough to ruin souls redeemed by the blood of
a God, hath much reason to fear for his salva-
tion. What can we reasonably hope from
Jesus Christ, after having tom from him what
he hath so dearly purchased ? O fathers and
mothers, who do not live as Christians ought to
live, it were far better for your children that
they had never been bom! You have given
them life only to put them to death ; that dread-
ful death which is eternal ! When they shall
require of you the heaven they have lost, what
will you he able to answer them ?
3. Let us clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ,
according to the words of the apostle ; let his
conduct, his virtue, and his spirit shine forth
in us, so that he may he remembered when we
are seen. We contribute not less to our neigh-
bour’s salvation by an edifying life, than we do
to his damnation by a scandalous one.
Be very careful to do nothing that may scandalize your
neighbour; and humbly beg pardon of God for the sms
you have occasioned.
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“ Wo be to the man by whom scandal
cometb.” St. Matt . xviii.
“ The scandalous sinner must answer for the
crimes which his bad example hath caused to
be committed.” Salvian .
Twenty-second Day. — On Mortification.
1. We are not Christians merely to be rich
and to live at our ease. It was not necessary
to institute Christianity for that purpose: the
world might have been left as it was, under the
empire of passion and opinion. The life of a
Christian is a crucified life : unless the cross be
embraced, faith must be renounced.
2. What doth the gospel say ? " Blessed are
those who weep : wo be to you, O rich, who
have your consolation in this world !” Such is
the language of the Holy Ghost. But it is now
looked on as nonsense to believe that felicity
consists in tears, and that the rich are unhappy.
3. The Son of God was to die on the cross,
that he might take possession of his glory ; the
saints have arrived at heaven by the path of
sufferings. Shall we then imagine that what
the Son of God and the saints have so dearly
purchased, shall be given to us for nothing?
No ; the cross is the distinctive mark and por-
tion of the elect : a soul which suffers nothing,
and is resolved to suffer nothing, bears 'the
strongest character of a reprobate. We must
of necessity suffer in this world or in the next.
Adore Christ crucified, and beg of him the grace to
participate now in his suffering life, that you may be one
day a partaker in his life of glory.
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u Whoever doth not carry his cross is not
worthy of me.” Luke, xiv.
“ What a shame to he a delicate member of
a head crowned with thorns.” St. Bernard .
Twenty-third Day. — On Conformity to the Will
of God.
1. The greatest happiness of a rational
creature is, to will that which his Creator
willeth. It is in this, precisely, that real sanc-
tity consists. The saints are saints only because
their will corresponded with the will of God.
Whatever virtue we may possess, if we have
not that of conformity to the divine will, we are
not truly virtuous.
2. A soul that is not satisfied with the will
of God, seems to doubt, in some measure, of
his authority. To desire that what he ordains
and permits in this world should go on other-
wise than it does, is to desire that God should
not he master. Every thing that happens to
us, happens by his order ; and is it not just
to acquiesce in whatever is ordained by infinite
wisdom ?
3. All things hut sin fall out by God’s ap-
pointment. Though his arm he raised to strike,
we are sure that his hand is conducted by his
heart. What have we to fear from a heart
that loves us? We will then desire nothing
but what he pleases ; we will not complain of
losses, sickness, trouble, &c. The name and
the nature of these things are changed as they
pass through the hands of God. What the world
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calls misfortunes, affliction, dishonour, is an
advantage, a grace, and a favour from heaven,
when considered in the order of providence.
Renounce your own will, and beg of God that his may
be accomplished in you.
“ Be it so, Father, because it is thy will.”
Matt. xi.
“ He is pleasing to God, to whom God is
pleasing.’1 St. Augustine .
Twenty-fourth Day. — Confidence in God.
1. God is the greatest parent of mankind ;
our Lord Jesus Christ has taught us to
call him Father. Not a hair can even drop
from our heads without his knowledge. His
providence reaches from end to end, disposing
all things sweetly. What madness, therefore,
to doubt of his protection, or to be slow in
trusting ourself to his guidance !
2. The insects are an object of his care ;
how much more we who are created to his
image, and redeemed by the blood of his only-
begotten Son! If God feed the infidels, who
know him not ; if he heaps favours on the
impious, by whom he is blasphemed, what will
he not do for Christians who honour and love
him?
3. Our affairs are much better off when in
his hands, than they can be in our own : let us
therefore leave them all at his disposal. He is
at the same time our Father and our Creator.
The tenderness he has for his children obliges
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him to take care of them. He has promised
us his protection ; he will then he as good as
his word. Sooner shall the heavens and the
earth be destroyed, than that man should perish,
who places his confidence in God.
Examine your heart, and see whether your confidence
be worthy of the goodness of God, and the merits of Jesus
Christ.
u Thou art my God : my lot is in thy hands.11
Psalm xxx.
“ Throw yourself upon him, he will not with-
draw to let you fall.11 St. Augustine.
Twenty-fifth Day . — On the Love of God.
1. God has loved us to such a degree, as to
give us his only Son: had he any thing better he
would have given it us. Is it not buying our
love too dearly, to purchase it at so dear a rate?
A trifling bounty from a fellow-creature is
entitled to our love ; why, then, shall we not
love a bounty that is infinite ? Why doth its
being infinite render it less amiable ?
2. God has strictly enjoined me to love him.
Is a commandment rigorous, which orders us
to love what is infinitely worthy of our affec-
tions? He commands us to love him with
all our hearts. Is a heart so small as mine,
too much for a God so great? Butin saying
ally he admits of no exception. Whatever
share I give him, if I give him not all, I
give him nothing.
3. If eternity could have an end, the torments
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of the damned in hell, even to the day of
judgment, would not he too much to obtain
this heavenly love. There is not one of these
miserable souls that would not think itself
happy, provided that, after ages of sufferings,
it could love that infinite beauty. We can love
God if we please : every moment invites us
to it. Not to do so while it can he done, is
a monstrous insensibility.
Disclaim every love but that of God alone, and endeavour
to love him above all things.
“ If I have not charity, I am nothing.”
1 Cor, xiii.
Twenty-sixth Day . — Love of Jesus Christ.
1. Nothing was ever purchased at so dear
a rate as my soul. A divine life was given
to redeem it. I deserved hell: justice cried
out for punishment ; but Christ would listen
only to the emotions of his heart : it pleaded
in my behalf, and I obtained forgiveness. If
I return him not life for life, the least I can
do is to return him love for love.
2. The dog that I feed, watches, caresses,
and attends me : J esus has given his blood
for me, and continues to give me himself ;
yet I am still insensible. Learn, then, un-
grateful soul! learn, I say, thy duty from a
brute ! thy dog is thy teacher and thy judge.
If his example reform not thy heart, thou
art more brutal than he.
3. We can feel for our friends ; we are not
insensible of the good they do us ; we pique
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ourselves upon gratitude. Shall we then he
ungrateful only to Christ? Shall he alone
find us hard-hearted ? Had we ever a friend
that sacrified himself for us ?
Beg the love of Jesus from Jesus himself. Without his
grace we shall never be able to love him.
“If any one love not the Lord Jesus, let
him be accursed.” 1 Cor. vi.
“ If I belong to him entirely for having
created me, what shall I add for having
been redeemed, and redeemed in so excellent
a manner ?” St. Bernard.
Twenty-seventh Day. — Love of our Neighbour.
1. If we love not our neighbour, we cannot
• love God. Whatever good we do, is to no
purpose, if we do not love our brethren.
Even martyrdom itself will not avail us, without
charity.
2. “ This is my commandment,” said Jesus,
“ that you love one another, as I have loved
you.” Had mankind nothing else than Christ’s
love to endear them, they are objects of
esteem for that very reason. Since our Sa-
viour has loved them, shall we refuse to do
so?
3. Do we love all men as Christ has loved
them ? Do we thirst for their salvation as he
did? Do we do by them as we would be
done by ?
Excite yourself to love those whom our Lord Jesus
Christ has loved so tenderly : firmly purpose to promote
their salvation, and never to do- what may offend against
charity.
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“ He that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled
the law.” Rom . xiii.
“ By charity alone, the children of God are
distinguished from the children of Satan.” —
St. Augustine.
Twenty-eighth Day . — Love of our Enemies.
1. So essential is charity to the Christian
religion, that we are obliged to love even our
enemies ; Christ hath given the commandment,
and set the example. God orders it, and shall
we find it hard to obey ? A God forgives his
very executioners, and shall we refuse to pardon
a brother?
2. “ He that will not forgive, shall not be
forgiven.” God will not pardon us, but on
the condition that we pardon others. If we
seek revenge, we call down God’s anger upon
us. We must either love our enemies, or hate
ourselves.
3. It should seem that two Christians who
hate each other, are not really professors of
the same religion ; for how can they approach
the same altar, eat the same food, believe the
same heaven, and hope to be together eternally ?
Mutual hatred is allowed hut to devils: it
belongs to them alone. There is not a more
formal sign of reprobation, than that of refusing
to pardon an enemy ; and a soul in such a dis-
position may he looked on as marked for hell.
Examine your heart at the sight of the crucifix ; and if
you feel a hatred for any person, take sentiments of charity
from the wounds of Jesus.
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“ He that hates his brother is a murderer.”
1 John , iii. 15.
“ You a Christian, and yet desire to he re-
venged ! But Christ hath not yet taken ven-
geance.” St. Augustine .
Twenty-ninth Day. — Imitation of Christ.
1. The Son of God, when he united his
divinity to our human nature, became the
model of Christians. He is the head of the
predestined ; we are therefore bound to resem-
ble him.
2. The manners of the world are carefully
studied; but the life of Jesus Christ is hardly
thought upon. Courtiers form themselves upon
their prince; philosophers have been imitated
even in their faults. Did we ever seriously
strive to imitate Jesus ? Have we taken any
pains to follow his example, or to copy after
the virtues of his holy life ?
3. What shall we say for ourselves at the
awful tribunal of Divine Justice, when we shall
be compared to our model; when the life of
Jesus shall be opposed to our life; his humi-
lity to our pride; his wounds to our delicacy;
his sweetness to our anger and impatience,
&c. P Ah! what a monster is a Christian
without Christianity ! baptized, and a slave of
the devil ! under the banners of the cross, yet
a follower of the flesh and the world! We
must then renounce our baptism, or conform
to the life of our Saviour.
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See whether you bear any resemblance to the Son of
God, and whether you may be truly considered as a dis-
ciple of a crucified Jesus.
“ Master, I will follow thee wheresoever
thou goest.” Matt . viii.
“ Without cause am I a Christian, if I fol-
low not Christ.” St. Bernard.
Thirtieth Day.— On Fervour in the Service
of God.
1. Let us have as much zeal for God as
he has for us. He acts exteriorly, but for the
perfection of our souls. All the desires of his
heart, all the cares of his providence, all the
tenderness of his mercy, are referred to this.
O what a subject of confusion for tepid souls !
2. Were we to judge of God by our own
indifference, it might he said that he does not
deserve our services, and that his rewards are
very trifling. What idea can he had of a
master whose servants attend him carelessly,
and without the smallest affection? We dis-
honour God, we cry down his services, as
often as we perform negligently what he re-
quires of us. Wo be to the man who does
the work of God without attention!
3. An action done for God, how trifling
soever it may he, is of far greater value than
the most renowned exploits of heroes. If we
pique ourselves upon so much courage in
labouring for vanity, what should be done
when we are employed for eternity? What!
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EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH. 207
the servants of the devil spare no pains ; they
do not complain of what they go through;
they are ever indefatigable. Is Jesus Christ
then less considerable than the devil? Is
paradise less valuable than hell? Hell then
shall he, as it were, our instructor: we are
to love God as much as the damned hate him ;
we are to serve God as much as the world
serves the devil. Is this too much?
Examine your conduct with respect to the service of
God ; consider the actions in which you are most remiss ,
and excite yourself to perform them henceforth with a
fervour worthy of your master.
“ Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Rom .
“ Let the ardour you formerly had for the
world he now entertained for him that created
it.” St. Augustine.
Thirty-first Day. — On Devotion to the Mother
of God.
1. A more pure, more excellent, or more
amiable being than this glorious Virgin, was
never yet created. God having from all eter-
nity destined her to be the mother of his Son,
it was proper she should be embellished with
every created excellence, and that her dignity
and influence in heaven should far surpass
the dignity and influence of all the other saints.
Most justly then is she entitled to our venera-
tion, respect, and confidence.
2. Let us put ourselves under her protec-
tion : let us recommend ourselves to her prayers.
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206
PIOUS REFLECTIONS FOR
How great soever our wickedness, or how
numerous soever our faults may have been,
let us always have recourse to her, and hope,
through her prayers, for the grace of our con-
version. Her charity is so great, her interest
is so powerful, that she must always plead
successfully for the repenting sinner.
3. But let us never forget, that to honour
her properly, is to imitate her virtues ; that
to persevere in sin, upon the hopes of her
future intercession, is equally absurd, impious,
and detestable. Her hatred of this error should
be always before our eyes. Her purity, her
mildness, her patience, should be ever present
to us.
“ Hail, full of grace.” Luke, i.
“ O name! under which no one should
despair.” St. Augustine.
CONCLUDING REFLECTION.
1. As Christians, it would be very profitable
for us to reflect, every morning, that we have on
that day a God to glorify, a Saviour to imitate,
our souls to save, our bodies to mortify, virtues
to acquire, sins to satisfy for, heaven to seek
after, hell to fly, eternity to meditate on, time
to improve, temptations to overcome, the devil
to resist, our neighbour to edify, our passions to
subdue, the world to guard against, and per-
haps death and judgment to undergo. Reflect
seriously on all tnese important truths, and they
will not only incite you to begin the day well,
but also, in the course thereof, to make the
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EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH. 209
affair of your eternal salvation your principal
study.
2. As it is also a duty of the last consequence
to conclude the day properly, nothing can prove
a more powerful incitement thereto, than the
serious consideration of the many spiritual and
temporal blessings which God hath bestowed
on you ; the various evils from which his
providence hath hitherto preserved you; and
the absolute uncertainty whether you shall
ever unclose your eyes to behold the next
morning. Thousands who had as good a right
to expect it as you, were nevertheless disap-
pointed. The very bed on which you lie is
a memento mori , or kind of sepulchre ; and
sleep, the image of death. What unaccount-
able rashness then must it be, for a sinner to
compose himself to sleep in a state of mortal
sin, without first endeavouring to appease the
wrath of God by an act of contrition, or some
other spiritual exercise of piety and devotion ;
since that very night, perhaps, his soul may
be required of him !
3. Let us then guard against this danger,
by a faithful discharge of every Christian duty ;
let us frequently exclaim, with the prophet:
“ Enlighten mine eyes, O Lord, that I may
never sleep in death, lest the enemy at any
time may say, I have prevailed against him.”
“ He that desires to make any progress in
the service of God, must begin every day
with fresh ardour ; he must, as much as pos-
sible, keep himself in the presence of God,
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210 MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED.
and in all bis actions, have no other object
in view but that of promoting the divine
honour.” St. C. Borromeus .
MEDITATIONS
ON
THE APOSTLES’ CREED,
Which may be used with great spiritual profit by Religious
Societies , or Private Families , assembled together in
common prayer at night , or at any other time most
convenient ; on Sundays , Holidays , Sfc.
THE METHOD.
Thirteen Paters and Aves are annexed to these medi-
tations, in honor of Jesns Christ and his twelve apostles.
The meditations to be read by the head of the family or
community, to which the assistants should hearken with
the most devout attention. The prayers to be recited partly
by the head, and partly by the assistants.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity,
now and for evermore. Amen.
V. Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips,
R. And my tongue shall declare thy praise.
Y. O God, incline unto mine aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost ;
R. As it was in the beginning, &c. Amen.
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MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED. 211
LET US PRAT.
Direct, O Lord, we beseech thee, our actions
by tby holy inspirations, and carry them on by
thy gracious assistance, that every prayer and
work of ours may always begin from tbee, and
may by tbee be happily ended, through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Let us recite the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father, &c. Give us this day, &c.
Let us recite the Angelical Salutation.
Hail Mary, &c. Holy Mary, &c.
Let us recite and devoutly meditate on the different articles
of the Creed.
FIRST ARTICLE.
u I believe in God , the Father Almighty ,
Maker of Heaven and Earth — Let us atten-
tively consider, in this first article of our
creed, the infinite power, wisdom, and good-
ness, which our almighty and sovereign Lord
God has displayed in the creation of the heavens
and of the earth, and of all things visible and
invisible therein contained. He drew us out
of the abyss of nothing, and made all things
for our use and service. He gave us rational
and immortal souls, stamped with his own
image and likeness, and capable of knowing,
loving, and serving him on earth, and of enjoy-
ing him for all eternity in the kingdom of
heaven. This is the noble, the blessed, and
the glorious end for which he has vouchsafed
to create us ; and should it not be our chief
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212 MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED.
study and care to answer this happy end, by
dedicating ourselves to him for time and eter-
nity, and by employing all our senses, and all
the faculties of our souls, in his love and
service, and for his greater honour and glory ?
With this intention let us say: “ Our Father,”
&c. “ Give us this day,” &c. “ Hail Mary,”
&c. “ Holy Mary,” &c.
SECOND ARTICLE.
“ And in Jesus Christy his only Son , our
Lord.” — Let us now meditate on the great
benefit of our redemption, and the boundless
mercy of the only-begotten and eternal Son of
God; who, when four thousand years had
elapsed after the creation and fall of our first
parents from their original innocence, out of
pure love and compassion, came down from
heaven, to reconcile us to his eternal Father,
and to purchase mercy, grace, and salvation
for us, by the effusion of the last drop of his
precious blood. Thus he became our Jesus,
our Christ, our Redeemer, our Saviour, our
High Priest, our Mediator, our King, our
Lord, and our Sovereign Master. He claims
and challenges us, therefore, as his sole right
and property. We belong to him by every
title that dominion or jurisdiction can confer.
We are his by creation, his by preservation,
his by the title of his all-ruling providence.
We are his in a very special and particular
manner, by virtue of our redemption. As
Christians we derive our name from him, and
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MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED. 213
are his members and temples, dedicated and
consecrated to him by the solemn vows and
covenant of our baptism. Let us then offer all
our thoughts, words, and actions, to his honour
and glory, and let us employ our whole lives
in loving and serving him faithfully; saying,
for this end, the prayers which himself and
his church have taught us : “ Our Father,” &c.
" Hail Mary,” &c.
THIRD ARTICLE.
“ Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost ;
born of the Virgin Mary? — We are now to
meditate on the wonderful mystery of the incar-
nation and temporal nativity of the Son of
God. When the fulness of time appointed
for the redemption of mankind was come, the
second Person of the blessed Trinity assumed
our flesh in the womb of his blessed Mother ;
that the divine and human nature being thus
united in his person, he might be capable of
satisfying divine justice for the injury which
God had received by sin. He became man
for our salvation, not in the ordinary way ,
but after a supernatural and incomprehen*
sible manner , by the operation of the Holy
Ghost. But although the incarnation, consi-
dered particularly as a work of divine mercy,
goodness and love, be particularly attributed
to the Holy Ghost, and although the three
Persons of the blessed Trinity, essentially
possessing the same undivided powers, have
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214 MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED.
equally concurred therein, yet this wonderful
work was effected only by the second Person :
his sacred body was formed of the most pure
blood of his Virgin Mother, without the least
violation of her virginal integrity, and a most
perfect soul was created to animate his body.
Being thus miraculously conceived, he was also,
after the space of nine months, miraculously
bom in a stable at Bethlehem, under the reign
of Augustus Caesar. As man, being at the same
time true God, he subjected himself to all our
infirmities and miseries, sin only excepted, of
which he was incapable. At so early a period
as at his very first entrance into the world,
he was pleased to suffer for us, and to give
us, in his tender infancy, the most perfect
example of poverty, humility, and mortifica-
tion ; that he might thereby manifest to us the
infinite riches of his mercy and goodness, and
teach us to despise the sinful vanities of the
world. He discovered himself to the shep-
herds by a choir of angels from heaven, to
shew that he came to be the Saviour of the
Jews. He manifested himself also to the
Eastern Magi by a star from heaven, to shew
that he was likewise come to he the Saviour
of the Gentiles. He continued to live in a
poor, private, and retired manner, till he was
thirty years of age, when he began to preach
the gospel, to cast out devils, to cure the
dumb, the deaf, the lame, and blind, and to
work the most stupendous miracles, in favour
of a people the most ungrateful on the face of
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MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED. 215
the earth. Let us not imitate them ; let us
rather embrace our divine Redeemer with all
the affections of our souls, and ever retain a most
grateful sense of the innumerable benefits he
has conferred on us ; devoutly saying : “ Our
Father,” &c. “ Hail Mary,” &c.
FOURTH ARTICLE.
“ Suffered under Pontius Pilate ; was cru-
cified, dead and buried .” — Let us here meditate
on the dolorous mysteries of our dear Re-
deemer’s passion, crucifixion, death and burial.
To show the greatness of his love for us, and
the plenteous redemption which he brought us,
he was pleased to suffer every kind of torment
with winch human nature could be afflicted.
“ What was sufficient for our salvation,” says
St. Bernard, “ was not sufficient for his charity.”
When he could have saved us with a single
drop of his blood, he redeemed us with a deluge
thereof, after a painful life of thirty-three
years. His passion began in the garden of
Gethsemani, at the foot of Mount Olivet,
near Jerusalem, and ended only on Mount
Calvary ; Tiberius being then emperor of
Rome, and Pontius Pilate governor, or pre-
sident, of Judea. He suffered in his soul, and
in his body, in his senses, and in all his members,
from the sole of his foot, to the crown of his
head. He was buffetted and spit upon; he
was mocked and insulted; he was scourged^
he was crowned with thorns ; and at length
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216 MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED.
bis bands and feet were pierced and fastened
witb gross nails to an ignominious cross ; and
after hanging alive thereon, between two
thieves, in the most excruciating pain, for the
space of three long hours, he expired, and gave
up his blessed soul into the hands of his eternal
Father. After his death, his sacred body
being taken off the cross on Good-Friday, in
the afternoon, and being embalmed, according
to the custom of the Jews, by Joseph of Ari-
mathea and Nicodemus, it was wrapped up in
linen cloth, and laid in a new monument,
hewn out of a rock, near Mount Calvary. O
let us not then repay the boundless love of our
crucified Redeemer with sin and ingratitude,
but let us rather make the best return we
are able, of love and gratitude to him, who
suffered so much for our sake ; devoutly saying,
“ Our Father,” &c. “ Hail, Mary,” &c.
FIFTH ARTICLE.
“ He descended into hell ; the third day he
rose again from the dead? — Here let us medi-
tate how our blessed Saviour’s soul, when
separated from his body, descended into hell,
or the dreary prison, where the souls of the
holy patriarchs and saints of the Old Testament
were detained, until he had paid the price of
their redemption, and opened for them the
gates of heaven, which ;had remained shut
against mankind from the fall Adam until that
time. We may judge how the presence and
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MEDITATIONS ON THE CBEED. 217
sight of their so long wished-for Redeemer
turned their gloomy prison into a paradise of
delights, and occasioned unspeakable joy to
the holy souls to whom he came to preach the
gospel of redemption, release from their tedious
captivity, and carry up with him to heaven at
his ascension, as the first fruits of his victorious
triumph over sin and death. Having comforted
them by these happy tidings, his blessed soul,
after remaining part of three days subject to
the laws of death, returned from this prison to the
sepulchre, and being re-united to his body, he
arose early on the morning of the third day
from the bowels of the earth, by his own divine
power, and was the first who from death rose
to a glorious and immortal life. His resurrec-
tion is a perfect model for us to copy after.
Let us endeavour to imitate it by a spiritual
resurrection from the death of sin, to a new
life of grace, so as to continue for ever to live
with him, and to return no more to the death
of mortal sin. For this end, let us implore his
divine assistance ; saying with devotion, “ Our
Father,” &c. “ Hail Mary,” &c.
SIXTH ARTICLE.
“ He ascended into heaven , and sitteth at
the right hand of God , the Father Almighty" — •
Let us here meditate how our divine Redeemer,
after accomplishing the great work of our
redemption, ascended triumphantly from the
top of Mount Olivet into the kingdom of heaven,
T
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218 MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED.
on the fortieth day after his glorious resurrec-
tion, in the presence of his apostles and disciples,
till a cloud at length interposed and took him
out of their sight. He then withdrew his visible
presence from the world ; raised human nature
above the choirs of saints and angels, to the
highest seat in the kingdom of heaven, where,
in full possession of the glory of his eternal
Father, he pleads for us with the powerful
eloquence of liis sacred wounds, which he in-
cessantly represent to him, in quality of our
High Priest, Mediator, and Advocate. O what
a comfortable reflection, to think that we have
such an affectionate friend in the court of heaven !
O what encouragement to raise our hopes ! what
inducement to follow him with our hearts, and
ascend after him in spirit and affection ! For
this end let us beseech him to break the chains
of our sins, and the fetters of our passions,
which so unhappily tie down our affections to
the earth; devoutly saying, “ Our Father,” &c.
" Hail Mary,” &c.
SEVENTH ARTICLE.
“ From whence he shall come to judge both
the quick and the dead? Here let us meditate
on our blessed Redeemer’s return at the end of
the world, with great pomp and majesty, in
quality of Sovereign Judge of the living and
the dead. As soon as the last trumpet shall
sound, and the angel repeat these words in the
four comers of the earth : “ Arise ye dead.
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MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED. 219
and come to judgment!” the whole race of
mankind, both the good and the wicked, are
to appear before his awful tribunal, in sight
of Mount Calvary, in order to give a strict
account of all their thoughts, words, and actions ;
for, besides the particular judgment which is
passed on every soul immediately after death,
the justice of God requires that a general judg-
ment should also take place, in order that the
children of Adam should he assembled together,
and receive their sentence; either of eternal
salvation or eternal reprobation. O let us
make a timely provision for this woful day, in
order that we may then meet with a favourable
judgment, and he entitled to receive the happy
sentence of the elect ; saying for this end, “ Our
Father,” &c. “ Hail Mary,” &c.
EIGHTH ARTICLE.
u I believe in the Holy Ghost” — Let us
now meditate on the great work of our sanc-
tification, which is particularly attributed to
the Holy Ghost, the third person of the ever
blessed Trinity ; because he is the love of the
Father and the Son, and because it is from
God’s love to us that all sanctity, all grace,
all justification and virtue flow. For which
reason the apostle says, “ the charity of God
is poured into our hearts by the Holy Ghost,
who is given to us.” We first receive the
Holy Ghost, and are made his living temples
at the font of baptism, and afterwards we
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220 MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED.
receive him in a more perfect maimer in the
sacrament of confirmation, &c. O what a
happiness it is to possess this divine and
heavenly guest in our souls ! and how solicitous
should we be to invite him into our hearts,
to engage him to stay with us, and to make
our souls his dwelling-place for time and
eternity! Let us devoutly implore this great-
est of blessings ; saying, “ Our Father,” &c.
“ Hail Mary,” &c.
NINTH ARTICLE.
“ The holy Catholic Church ; the Communion
of Saints .” — We are now to meditate on the
infinite goodness and mercy of God, who, by
a special grace, has vouchsafed to call us to
the light of his true and saving faith, and to
include us within the pale and bosom of his
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,
in preference to so many thousands in dif-
ferent parts of the world, left in ignorance,
or buried in the darkness of error and infidelity.
This grace of our vocation is so signal a bless-
ing, that it calls upon us for our most grateful
acknowledgments, and will render us more
culpable at the last day than pagans or
infidels, if, instead of living up to our holy
profession, we dishonour it by the immorality
of our lives. On the contrary, if we square
our actions according to our belief; if we
show the purity of our religion by the purity
of our morals, and live as becomes worthy
members of the Catholic Church, we shall
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MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED. 221
assuredly be made partakers of all spiritual
blessings and treasures thereof, and benefit
by all the prayers, sacrifices, and good works,
which are wrought therein by our fellow-
members ; for as there subsists a common
union between all the parts of the human
body, there subsists, in like manner, a com-
mon or general union in spirituals between
all the parts of Christ’s mystical body, the
holy Catholic Church. O what an inestimable
blessing then must it be, to live and die in
the communion of his church! and, on the
contrary, what a grievous loss and misfortune
to he cut off therefrom by excommunication,
like rotten and dead members separated from
a natural body by amputation ! Let us beware
of incurring the like misfortune, and beseech
the Almighty to grant us grace to be always
obedient hearers of the pastors of his church,
those spiritual guides to whom he has com-
mitted the care of our souls; saying for this
end, " Our Father,” &c. “ Hail Mary,” &c.
TENTH ARTICLE.
“ The Forgiveness of Sins” — Here let us
also meditate on a second signal advantage
which may be obtained within the pale of the
holy Catholic Church. Besides the mutual
communication in spirituals, and participation
in good works, that subsists between all the
parts of the church in their three different
states, viz. the saints in heaven, the souls in
t 2
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222 MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED.
purgatory, and the true believers on earth,
who compose the church triumphant, sufferanf,
and militant; the apostles also teach us, in
this article of their creed, that there is a
power left by Jesus Christ to his church, to
forgive the sins of such as truly repent, and
properly apply for absolution. Original sin
has been already remitted by the sacrament
of baptism, and the actual sins committed
after baptism are pardoned in the sacrament
of penance, when duly administered by the
pastors of the church, and received with the
proper dispositions on the part of the repenting
sinner. Let us therefore beseech the Father
of mercies to grant us these dispositions ; say-
ing, “ Our Father,” &c. “ Hail Mary,” &c.
ELEVENTH ARTICLE.
“ The Resurrection qf the Flesh” — Let us
here meditate on a third signal privilege re-
served in the next life for the living members
of the holy Catholic Church. On the last day
there will be a general resurrection of the
dead ; and the whole human race, which at
the fall of our first parents had been sentenced
to return to their original dust, shall arise
again to receive their final and irrevocable
doom. As soon as the angel, by the sound
of his trumpet, proclaims the awfiil summons,
“ Arise ye dead, and come to judgment ! ”
the bodies of all the children of Adam, re-
animated by their respective souls, shall instan-
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MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED. 223
taneously, in the “ twinkling of an eye,” issue
forth out of their several graves and sepul-
chres, never more to he separated for an endless
eternity. But, alas! how very different will
be the manner of the resurrection of the repro-
bate from that of the elect! for whereas the
bodies of the former shall arise in a condition
suitable to their deserts, that is, foul, hideous,
heavy, inactive, and only fit to be the fuel of
everlasting flames, (immortal indeed they shall
be, but to no other end than to endure im-
mortal torments,) so those of the latter shall
arise glorious, beautiful, immortal, and impas-
sible, brighter than the stars, and more re-
splendent than the sun. This glorious state
of immortality is infallibly reserved for the
bodies of such Christians as in this life have
been as it were consecrated by receiving the holy
sacraments, and particularly the Eucharist;
since Christ himself expressly declares, “He
that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood,
hath eternal fife, and I will raise him up at
the last day.” O let us then frequently approach
this heavenly banquet, with the proper dis-
positions, that thereby our bodies and souls
being preserved pure from the corruption of
sin, may both arise together at the last day
to a happy immortality. That this may be
our happy lot, let us with the most fervent
devotion, say, “ Our Father,” &c. “ Hail
Mary,” &c.
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224 MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED.
TWELFTH ARTICLE.
“ Life everlasting? — This is the fourth and
final blessing attainable within the pale of the
holy Catholic Church, and reserved for the
children of light in the next world. It is the
last end of man, the ultimate reward that
awaits true faith, animated by charity and
good works, and it essentially consists in the
clear vision and fruition of God. O let us
lead such lives here on earth, that we may
hereafter live with Jesus Christ in the glory
of his eternal Father, for ever and ever : and
that this may he our happy case, let us
devoutly say, “ Our Father,” &c. “ Hail
Mary,” &c.
THE SALVE REGINA.
Hail, happy Queen ! thou mercy’s parent hail !
Life, hope, and comfort of this earthly vale ;
To thee we eve’s wretched children cry ;
In sighs and tears to thee we suppliants fly.
Rise, glorious advocate, exert thy love,
And let our vows thine eyes of pity move.
O sweet, O pious maid ! for us obtain —
For us who long have in our exile lain —
To see thy Jesus, and with him to reign.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may he made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
V. Pray for us, O ye holy apostles, and all
ye saints of God,
R. That we may he made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
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AN UNIVERSAL PRAYER.
225
LET US PRAY.
We beseech thee, O Lord, that by the inter-
cession of the blessed and glorious Virgin Mary,
of thy holy apostles, and of all thy saints, thou
wouldst vouchsafe to protect and defend us from
the snares of the enemy, and conduct us unto
life everlasting. Amen.
AN UNIVERSAL PRAYER.
FOR ALL THINGS NECESSARY TO SALVATION.
0 my God, I believe in thee; do thou
strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in thee ;
do thou secure them. I love thee with my
whole heart ; teach me to love thee daily more
and more. I am sorry that I have offended
thee ; do thou increase my sorrow.
1 adore thee as my first beginning. I aspire
after thee as my last end. I give thee thanks
as my constant benefactor. I call upon thee
as my sovereign protector.
Vouchsafe, O my God, to conduct me by
thy wisdom, to restrain me by thy justice, to
comfort me by thy mercy, to defend me by
thy power.
To thee I desire to consecrate all my
thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; that
henceforward I may think of thee, speak of
thee, willingly refer all my actions to thy
greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever
thou shalt appoint.
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226 AN UNIVERSAL PRAYER.
Lord, I desire that in all things thy will
may he done, because it is thy will and in
the manner thou wiliest.
I beg of thee to enlighten my understanding,
to inflame my will, to purify my body, and
to sanctify my soul.
Give me strength, O my God, to expiate
my offences, to overcome my temptations, to
subdue my passions, and to acquire the virtues
proper for my state.
Fill my heart with a tender affection for thy
goodness, a hatred for my faults, a love for
my neighbour, and a contempt for the world.
Let me always remember to he submissive to
my superiors, condescending to my inferiors,
faithful to my friends, and charitable to my
enemies.
Assist me to overcome sensuality by mor-
tification, avarice by alms-deeds, anger by
meekness, and tepidity by devotion.
O my God, make me prudent in my under-
takings, courageous in dangers, patient in
afflictions, and humble in prosperity.
Grant that I may ever be attentive at my
prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in
my employments, and constant in my resolu-
tions.
Let my conscience be ever upright and pure,
my exterior modest, my conversation edifying,
and my comportment regular.
Assist me, that I may continually labour
to overcome nature, to correspond with thy
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PRAYER FOB A PREGNANT WOMAN. 22T
grace, to keep thy commandments, and to
work out my salvation.
Discover to me, O my God, the nothingness
of this world, the greatness of heaven, the
shortness of time, and the length of eternity.
Grant that I may prepare for death; that
I may fear thy judgments ; that I may escape
hell, and in the end obtain heaven, through
the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR THE CHOICE OF A STATE OF LIFE.
O eternal God, who art the light of the
world, and for whose glory the whole creation is
ordained, to thee I submit myself, and my whole
life; and that I may live to thy glory, I
beseech thee, in thy mercy, to direct me in
the choice of a state of life ; that, having
thee for my guide, I may embrace that course
which may be most pleasing to thee, and most
proper for me to work out my salvation.
O Queen of heaven, and mother of Jesus,
be a mother to me, and obtain for me of thy
divine Son, that I may hear his call, and
know his will, and have grace readily to put
it into execution. Amen
A PRAYER FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN.
O Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven
and earth, who hath made us out of nothing,
and redemeed us by the precious blood of thine
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228 PRAYER FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN.
only Son, look down upon thy poor hand-
maid here prostrate before thee, humbly im-
ploring thy mercy, and begging thy blessing
for herself and her child, which thou hast
given her to conceive. Preserve, I beseech thee,
the work of thy hands, and defend both me
and the tender fruit of my womb, from all
perils and evils ; grant me, in due time a
happy delivery, and bring my child safe to
the font of baptism, that it may there be
happily dedicated to thee, to love and serve
thee for ever. But, O my God, I have too
much reason to fear, lest my great and mani-
fold sins should hinder thee from hearing my
prayers, and draw down thy judgment upon
me and mine, instead of thy mercies which I
sue for ; and therefore I am sensible the first
thing I ought to do is, to repent from the bottom
of my heart for all my offences, humbly
confess them, and continually cry to thee for
mercy. I detest, then, all my sins with my
whole heart, and desire to lay them all down
here at thy feet, to be effaced and destroyed
for ever. I renounce and abhor them with my
whole soul, because they are infinitely odious
to thee, and wish that I could expiate them
with tears of blood. I humbly beg thy pardon
for them, and am sorry from the bottom of
my heart that I ever committed them. I
here offer myself to make what satisfaction
I am able for them, and most willingly accept
whatever pains I may suffer in childbearing*,
and offer them up to thee now beforehand
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LITANY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 229
for my sins, firmly resolving by thy grace
never wilfully to offend tbee more. Behold
here my poor heart, O Lord, and if it he
not such as I here express, I desire at least
it should be such : I desire it should be that
contrite and humble heart, which thou dost
never despise. In this disposition of soul,
and with a lively confidence in thy mercies,
and in the merits of the death and passion
of Jesus Christ thy Son, I renew the petition
I made before, and once more I beg of thee
for myself, thy grace, protection, and a happy
delivery ; and for my child, that thou wouldst
be pleased to preserve it for baptism, sanctify
it for thyself, and make it thine for ever ;
through the same, &c.
THE
LITANY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
A short Instruction to the Devout Reader.
That we may be equally disposed and subordinate to
the designs and directions of Divine Providence, as well
in adversity as in prosperity, and receive with equal
gratitude its decrees ana appointments, is the end of the
ensuing devotion or litany. Three particulars we ought
to keep in view : 1. That we bow our heads with the
greatest submission, humility, and resignation to the will
of God, manifested to us in the order of his Divine Pro-
vidence. 2. That we place a full confidence and reliance
in his favourable intentions in our regard. 3. That our
behaviour be such as to draw on us his favour and pro-
tection, and that we may be thoroughly grateful and
acknowledging for blessings conferred on us through his
Divine Providence.
u
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230 LITANY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
THE LITANY.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father, whose holy providence
governs all things,
God the Son, Redeemer of human kind,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God, unchangeable
Providence,
Divine Providence, that governs all things
in heaven and earth.
Divine Providence, that gives, preserves,
and governs our life,
Divine Providence, the eternal love of
man below and angels above.
Divine Providence, ever conformable to
the influence of the tender heart of J esus.
Divine Providence, that created, directs,
and governs all things, with weight,
measure, and wisdom,
Divine Providence, our hope, life, and
salvation,
Divine Providence, defence and comfort
of the afflicted,
Divine Providence, guide and support of
souls in all dangers,
Divine Providence, that provides us with,
and imparts to us, all natural and
supernatural gifts,
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Have mercy on us.
LITANY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 231
Divine Providence, inexhaustible treasury
Of the riches of heaven,
Divine Providence, protector and defence
of the just,
Divine Providence, safe retreat and sanc-
tuary to the miserable,
Divine Providence, our resource in all
wants,
Divine Providence, our anchor in storms,
Divine Providence, our security in danger,
our way and secure haven,
Divine Providence, remedy in all evils,
food to the hungry, and fountain of
refreshing water to the thirsty,
Divine Providence, raiment to the naked,
strength to the weak, protector and
mother to widows and orphans,
Divine Providence, refuge of sinners,
Providence of God, who rules all things, infi-
nitely deserving of our homage and adoration :
Spare us, O Lord .
Providence of God, which protects and conserves
all things, infinitely worthy of our homage
and adoration : Hear us, O Lord .
Providence of God, which created and knows
our weakness, infinitely above our homage,
and adoration : Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. We praise and adore thee, Divine Pro-
vidence.
R. We resign ourselves to thy just and holy
designs.
LET US PRAY.
Eternal God, whose eyes are over all thy
works, especially intent on thy servants, vouch-
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232 LITANY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
safe to turn away from us whatever is hurtful,
and grant us whatever is advantageous, that
through thy favour, and under the benign
influence of thy special providence, we may
securely pass through the transitory dangers
and difficulties of this life, and happily arrive
at the eternal joys of the other : through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Anth. By thy immaculate conception, and
most spotless virginity, O ever holy Mother of
Christ, comfort of the afflicted, be propitious to
us, both now and in the hour of our death.
V. In all our anguish and tribulation,
R. We fly to thee, O Mother of Mercy.
A PRAYER.
Remember, O most pious and tender Virgin,
that it is a thing unheard of in all ages, that
any one was abandoned by you, who ran to
you for succour, who implored your help, and
begged your intercession. Animated with this
confidence, I, a wretched sinner, place myself
in sighs and groans before you, to entreat
you to adopt me for your child for ever, and
to take my eternal salvation into your own
care. Do not, O Mother of the Divine Word,
despise my petition, hut listen to me and hear
me with a mother’s tenderness. Amen.
Great St. Joseph, admirable model of re-
signation, obtain for me from my dear Saviour,
who, to enforce your example, would submit
himself to he governed by you during the thirty
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LITANY OF BT. WINEFRID.
233
years of his hidden life, obtain for me from
God the grace to imitate him, and to resign
myself perfectly to that so sure and so amiable
Providence, which, preserving me from ever
going astray, may procure me an unalterable
peace in this life, and eternal happiness in the
next. Amen.
THE LITANY OF ST. WINEFRID.
*
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of mankind, have
mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of Virgins,
O blessed St. Wmefrid , Ip
O humble and mild Virgin, <§
O glorious spouse of Christ,
O devout and charitable Virgin, ^
O sweet comforter of the afflicted, P
O singular example of chastity,
O radient star,
O fairest flower of the British nation,
v 2
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234
LITANY OF ST. WINEFRID.
O admirable and elected vessel,
O mirror of chastity,
O mirror of devotion,
O mirror of piety,
O bright lamp of sanctity,
O golden image of angelic purity,
O hope and safety of distressed pilgrims, -
That we may be delivered from all iniquity, "
That we may be delivered from all dis-
ordered passsions of the mind,
That we may be delivered from the deceits
of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
That we may be delivered from all occa-
sions of sin,
That we may be delivered from plague,
famine and war,
That we may be delivered from the wrath
of God, and eternal damnation,
That we and all sinners may have true
contrition, and full remission of our sins.
That all schismatics, heretics, and infidels,
may be converted to the holy catholic
and apostolic faith.
That we may always hate sin, and over-
come all temptations.
That we may despise all worldly vanities
and delights,
That we all may ever fear God, and fulfil
his holy will.
That we may have both spiritual and
corporal health,
That we may devoutly desire chastity and
purity of life, ^
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Pary for us. O holy Virgin and Martyr y pray for U8 .
LITANY OF ST. WINEFRID.
235
That we may fervently love humility and "
mildness,
That we may delight in pious prayer,
fasting, and charitable alms,
That we may discreetly and fervently
continue in the exercise of godliness,
That we may cheerfully and constantly
suffer for the love of Christ,
That the souls in purgatory, and all
afflicted persons may obtain heavenly
consolations,
That our benefactors, and all that labour
to save souls, may be blessed with abun-
dance of grace and everlasting life,
That we may enjoy true peace and endless
felicity,
That God, of his abundant mercy, may
vouchsafe to bless this our pilgrimage,
That by thy pious intercession, it may
be to the perfect health of our souls
and bodies,
That thou wilt vouchsafe to grant our
requests,
O blessed St. Winefrid, pray for us.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of
the world: Spare us , O Lord .
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of
the world: Hear us , O Lord .
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of
the world: Have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy
on us.
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O holy Virgin and Martyr , pray for us.
236 HYMN OF ST. WINEFRID.
Lord have mercy on us.
Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c.
V. The Lord he with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
LET US PRAY.
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast
adorned Saint Winefrid with the reward of
virginity ; grant, we beseech thee, by her pious
intercession, that we may set aside the delights
of the world, and obtain with her the throne
of everlasting glory ; through Jesus Christ thy
Son, who with thee liveth and reigneth in the
unity of the Holy Ghost for ever. Amen.
ANOTHER PRAYER.
Almighty and everlasting God, grant we
humbly beseech thee, that blessed St. Winefrid,
by her pious intercession, may obtain for us
such spiritual and temporal benefits as are
expedient to thy holy service and our eternal
salvation : through our Lord Jesus Christ thy
Son, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth
and reigneth, ever one God, world without
end. Amen.
A HYMN OF ST. WINEFRID.
As the fragrant rose in pleasing spring,
To God’s own Son a spouse most dear,
A martyr rare of Christ our King,
St. Winefrid did flourish here.
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PRAYER TO ST. WINEFRID 23T
Descended great of British race,
In faith was firm, in hope secure,
With holy works and soul of grace,
From worldly filth preserved pure.
Caradock this sacred maiden slew,
Because she did resist his lust;
But heaven’s immediate vengeance flew,
And doomed his soul for ever curst.
Stained with spots of reeking blood,
* Where Caradock’s sword sever’d the head,
A healing stream immediate flow’d,
Perpetual token of the deed.
Here God supreme doth wonders work,
The blind to see, the dumb to speak;
Diseases which in bodies lurk,
Are cur’d where faith is not too weak.
O glorious Virgin Winefrid,
To us the raging sea appease ;
And free us so from Satan’s dread,
That he on us may never seize.
A. PRAYER TO ST. WINEFRID.
O blessed 'Wiiiefrid! O pure Virgin, and
glorious martyr, so especially elected, so divinely
graced, and wonderfully restored from death
to life ! O singular hope of all that fly unto
thee with full confidence and humility. Though
unworthy, yet we thy devoted pilgrims make
our addresses to thee! O sanctuary of piety,
look upon us with patient eyes, receive our
petitions, accept our offerings, and present our
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238
PRATER TO ST. WINEFRID.
supplications to the throne of mercy, that
through thy powerful intercession God will
be pleased to bless this our pilgrimage, and
grant us our requests and desires: through
Jesus Christ, his Son, who with God the F ather,
and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever
one God, world without end. Amen.
ANOTHER PRATER TO ST*. WINEFRID.
O blessed Winefrid ! O glorious Virgin and
Martyr, who hast admirably beautified with the
purple of thy blood the rare purity of thy
innocent life, whom God has so specially
chosen, so highly privileged, and so wonder-
fully restored to life again, gracing thee with
the honour of a living martyr, causing a fountain
miraculously to spring, bearing a perpetual
memory of thy name, for the relief of all
diseased and distressed pilgrims who shall
devoutly beg thy powerful intercession. O
blessed Winefrid, hear my prayers, and receive
my humble supplications, or any poor devoted
pilgrim's, and obtain that by thy pious interces-
sion, God, of his infinite mercy, will be pleased
to grant us a full pardon and remission of
our sins, and a blessing to this our pilgri-
mage, and that we may increase and persevere
in God’s grace, and enjoy him eternally in
heaven. This we beg of thee, O blessed
Virgin and Martyr, for Jesus Christ our Lord
and Saviour’s sake. Amen.
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THE GOLDEN LITANY,
BRIEFLY COMMEMORATING OUR BLESSED REDEEMER’8 LIFE
AND PASSION.
Lord, have mercy upon us ! Christ , have
mercy upon us ! Lord, have mercy upon us !
God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven
and earth, Have mercy upon us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have
mercy upon us.
God, the Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of mankind,
Have mercy upon us.
O sacred Trinity of Persons, in unity of
essence, Have mercy upon us.
O blessed Jesus, true God and true man,
Have mercy upon us.
Through thy power in creating heaven and
earth, and all things therein contained, Have
mercy , fyc.
Through thy goodness in making man to
thine own image and likeness, Have mercy, ^c.
Through thy mercy in redeeming man after
his fall, Have mercy , tyc.
Through thy unspeakable, love, in making
choice of the blessed Virgin Mary for thy
Mother, Have mercy , c$*c.
Through the ineffable mystery of thine Incar-
nation, whereby thou didst vouchsafe to unite
thy divine person to our frail nature. Have
mercy , <f*c.
Through thy immaculate Conception, and
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240
THE GOLDEN LITANY.
nine months imprisonment within the sacred body
of the blessed Virgin Mary, Have mercy , <f*c.
Through thy blessed nativity in the poor
stable at Bethlehem, Have mercy , <f*c.
Through the hunger, cold, and the other
inconveniencies thou didst endure in thy ten-
der body, when laid in the crib between an ox
and an ass, Have mercy , <$-c.
Through thy painful circumcision, on the
eighth day after thy birth, when thou didst
first shed thy precious blood for our sake.
Have mercy , <f*c.
Through the adorable name of Jesus, which
was then given thee, Have mercy , <f*c.
Through the mystical offerings of gold, frank-
incense, and myrrh, which the wise men pre-
sented thee, whom by a miraculous star thou
didst summon out of the East, to adore thee in
thine infancy, Have mercy , <f*c.
Through the oblation thou didst make of
thyself to thine eternal Father, when in the
temple thou wert acknowledged by Simeon
and Anne, and ransomed with a pair of doves
by thy poor Virgin Mother, Have mercy , cf*c.
Through thy flight into Egypt to avoid the
cruelty of king Herod, and all thou didst there
suffer with thy blessed Mother and St. Joseph,
Have mercy , <f*c.
Through thy return from thence to Nazareth,
and the obedience thou didst there pay to thy
parents, Have mercy , <f*c.
Through thy being lost by thy parents in
Jerusalem, where thou wert again found by
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THE GOLDEN LITANY. 241
them, after three days’ search, sitting in the
temple in the midst of the doctors, Have mercy
upon us .
Through the sacred and hidden life thou didst
lead in Nazareth, with holy Mary and Joseph,
from the twelfth to the thirtieth year of thine
age, Have mercy upon us.
Through thy humble reception of baptism in
the river Jordan by the hands of St. John,
Have mercy upon us.
Through thy forty days’ fast in the desert,
where thou didst obtain repeated victories
over the three temptations of the devil, Have
mercy upon us.
Through thy first miracle of changing water
into wine at the marriage feast of Cana, Have
mercy upon us.
Through the zeal which thou didst show
for the honour of thy eternal Father, in casting
the buyers and sellers out of the temple,
Have mercy upon us.
Through thy condescending to discourse with
the Samaritan woman sitting at the fountain.
Have mercy upon us.
Through thy excessive charity in healing the
young man of Caphamaum, Simon Peter’s
mother-in-law, and a multitude of other infirm
persons, Have mercy upon us.
Through the power thou didst manifest in
appeasing the tempest at sea, walking on the
water, and enabling St* Peter to do so likewise.
Have mercy upon us.
Through thy efficacious calling of Peter,
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242
THE GOLDEN LITANY.
Andrew, James, and John, from their boats, and
Matthew from the receipt of custom, to follow
thee, Have mercy upon U8 .
Through the choice of thy twelve apostles,
and the divine sermon thou didst deliver to
them on the Mount, in which is exhibited
the model of a perfect Christian life. Have
mercy upon us.
Through the mercy thou didst show to the
penitent Magdalen, preferring her to the
Pharisee, and pardoning her sins, Have mercy
upon us.
Through the sending of the apostles to
preach thy gospel to the people, Have mercy
upon us.
Through thy miraculous feeding of five
thousand persons with five loaves of bread,
and four thousand with seven loaves, Have
mercy upon us.
Through thy appointment of Peter to be the
rock on which thou wouldst build thy church,
for his having confessed thee to be Christ the
Son of the living God, Have mercy upon us.
Through thy glorious transfiguration on
Mount Thahor, in the presence of three of thy
disciples, Have mercy upon us.
Through thy instructing us in the virtue and
efficacy of prayer, and by giving us a model
thereof in the divine “ Our F ather,” &c.
Have mercy upon us.
Through thy inflamed desire to redeem man-
kind, Have mercy upon us.
Through thy meek and humble entry into
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I
i
THE GOLDEN LITANY. 243
J erusalem on Palm-Sunday, riding upon an ass,
Have mercy upon us.
Through thy humility in washing the feet of
thy disciples, even those of the traitor Judas,
Have mercy upon us.
Through thy ineffable love manifested in the
institution of the sacrifice and sacrament of thy
precious body and blood, Have mercy upon
us.
Through the prayer thou didst thrice repeat
in the Garden of Mount Olivet, when a bloody
sweat trickled down thine agonized body, Have
mercy upon us.
Through thy condescending to receive a kiss
from the mouth of the traitor Judas, Have
mercy upon us.
Through thy being apprehended, hound, and
brought before the tribunals of Annas and
Caiphas, Have mercy upon us.
Through the blows, buffets, and opprobrious
usage thou didst endure the night before thy
crucifixion. Have mercy upon us.
Through thy presentation to the pagan judge,
Pilate, in the quality of a notorious criminal.
Have mercy upon us.
Through thy being sent before Herod, and
scornfully treated by that wicked king and his
soldiers, Have mercy upon us.
Through the cruel and contumelous whipping
thou didst endure at the pillar, Have mercy
upon us.
Through the barbarous clamours of the people
to have Barrabas, the murderer, released, and
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244 THE GOLDEN LITANY.
the innocent Jesus put to death. Have mercy
upon us.
Through the false accusations, suborned wit-
nesses, slanders, and calumnies, brought against
thee by the Jews, Have mercy upon us.
Through the shameful stripping off thy clothes,
and exposing thy naked body to the multitude.
Have mercy upon us.
Through the pressing of a crown of sharp
pointed thorns on thy sacred head. Have mercy
upon us. **
Through thy being clothed in a purple gar-
ment, and derided as a mock king, having a
reed put into thy hand for a sceptre, Have
mercy upon us.
Through the scoffing salutations, insulting
reflections, and scornful adorations, whereby
thou wert mocked by the Jews and the soldiers.
Have mercy upon us.
Through their spitting on thy divine face, and
striking thy sacred head, Have mercy upon us.
Through thy being exposed to the people in
the most lamentable condition, Pilate saying to
the multitude: Behold the man ! Have mercy
upon us. &
Through the horrid clamours and repeated
vociferations of the Jews, “ Away with him!
Crucify him ! ” Have mercy upon us.
Through thy meek and patient hearing of
the sentence of death pronounced against thee.
Have mbrcy upon us.
Through thy bearing thy heavy cross on thy
sacred shoulders, Have mercy upon us.
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THE OOLDEN LITANY.
245
Through the painful stretching of thy naked
body on the cross as on a rack, and fastening
thy hands and feet thereto with gross nails,
Save mercy upon us.
Through the compassion thou hadst for thy
sorrowful Mother, and beloved disciple, stand-
ing at the foot of thy cross. Save mercy
upon us.
Through thy excessive charity in praying
for thy persecutors, and murderers, and in
promising Paradise to the penitent thief, Save
mercy upon us.
Through the seven last speeches thou didst
utter on the cross whilst thou wast suspended
thereon for the space of three hours, Save
mercy upon us.
Through the vehement thirst thou didst then
suffer, and the gall and vinegar which was
given thee to drink, Save mercy upon us.
Through thy last agony, in which thou didst
commend thy blessed soul into the hands of thy
heavenly Father, Save mercy upon us.
Through the piercing of thy side with a lance,
and the water and blood which issued there-
from, Save mercy upon us.
Through the descent of thy departed soul
into Limbo, to conquer the devils, and set the
ancient fathers at liberty. Save mercy upon
us.
Through the taking down of thy dead body
from the cross by Joseph, of Arimathea, and
Nicodemus, in order to its burial, Save mercy
upon us.
x 2
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246
THE GOLDEN LITANY.
Through thy glorious resurrection from death
to life on the third day, Have mercy upon us.
Through thy appearing to thy blessed Mother,
to Mary Magdalen, to Peter and the other
apostles, frequently comforting and confirming
them during the space of forty days, Have
mercy upon us.
Through thine admirable ascension into
heaven, in the sight of thy sacred Mother and
thy disciples, Have mercy upon us.
Through the miraculous descent of the Holy
Ghost on thy apostles in the form of fiery
tongues, Have mercy upon us.
Through all thine actions and sufferings
during thy thirty years sojourning amongst
men, and by all that is pleasing to thy divine
Majesty in heaven and on earth, Have mercy
upon us.
V. Graciously hear our prayers, O Lord.
R. And let our cry come unto thee.
LET US PRAV.
Vouchsafe, O Almighty and most merci-
ful Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, to have
compassion, not only on us, hut also on all
such as shall present the foregoing petitions
to the throne of thy mercy, in commemoration
of thy sacred life and most bitter passion.
We beseech thee also, for thine own dear sake,
that thou wouldst grant to us, our friends and
benefactors, and to all those for whom we
intend or are hound to pray, the pardon of
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THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 247
all past offences, and preservation from future
failings; that loving thee, serving thee, and
obeying thee, with the utmost fervour, fidelity
and perseverance, during the remainder of our
earthly pilgrimage, we may be at length admit-
ted to the eternal enjoyment of thy beatific
presence in thy heavenly paradise. Amen.
May the blessing of Almighty God, the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
descend upon us, and dwell with us for ever-
more. Amen.
THE
PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET.
TO BE SAID IN HONOUR OF THE SACRED WOUND8 OF OUR
BLES8ED SAVIOUR.
1. O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, eternal
sweetness of those who love thee, joy above
any desire, firm hope of the hopeless, solace
of the sorrowful, and most merciful lover of
all penitent sinners ; who hast said, thy delight
is to be with the sons of men, for the love
of whom thou didst assume human nature in
the fulness of time. Remember, most sweet
Lord Jesus, all those sharp sorrows which
then pierced thy sacred soul, from the first
instant of thy incarnation, until the time of
thy solitary passion, pre-ordained from all
eternity. Remember, O most amiable Saviour,
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248 THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET.
all those bitter anguishes thou didst suffer,
when at thy last supper thou didst wash the
feet of thy disciples, didst feed them with the
sacred banquet of thy precious body and blood,
and most sweetly comforting them, didst fore-
tell them thy ensuing passion; after which,
going to Mount Olivet, thou saidst, “ My
soul is sorrowful unto death.” Remember, I
beseech thee, O most sweet Saviour, that bitter
grief and anguish which thy sacred soul did
suffer, when praying three several times to
thy heavenly Father, thou didst sweat water
and blood; thou wert betrayed by thy own
disciple, apprehended by thy chosen people,
accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged
by three judges, and in thy elected city, in the
paschal solemnity, in the flourishing age of
thy youth, wrongfully condemned, bound,
beaten, spurned, spit upon, despoiled of thy
garments, and clothed with others in scorn;
wert blind-folded, buffeted, spit upon again,
bound naked to a pillar, most cruelly scourged,
crowned with thorns, struck with a reed, and
afflicted with innumerable other torments,
pains, and injuries. O my Lord Jesus, by
the memory and merit of all those bitter pains
and anguishes before thy last expiration on
the cross, vouchsafe to grant me before my
death, true contrition, entire confession, a flow-
ing fountain of tears, full satisfaction, and a
plenary remission of all my sins. Amen.
O most gracious Lord Jesus, be propitious
to me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria.
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THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 249
2. O most sweet Lord Jesus, true liberty
of angels, and paradise of delights, remember,
I beseech thee, that grief and sorrow which
thou didst suffer when thy cruel enemies, like
fierce lions, with furious and dreadful looks,
compassing thee round about, did tear off thy
hair, spit upon thy sacred face, scratched,
beat, buffeted thee, and with all manner of
unheard-of-injuries, outrages, and torments,
didst most cruelly and basely blaspheme, scorn,
and affront thee. O most sweet Lord Jesus,
by all those most barbarous and inhuman out-
rages which thou didst suffer, vouchsafe to
deliver me from all my enemies, visible and
invisible; that, protected under the shadow
of thy wings, I may safely arrive at the port
of eternal glory. Amen.
O most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, be
propitious to me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave
Maria.
3. O most sweet Lord Jesus, omnipotent
creator and fabricator of the world, and
repairer of mankind, who containest both
heaven and earth in thy hand, and whose
immensity no bounds can limit ; remember,
I beseech thee, the bitter pains and anguishes
which thou didst endure, when the perfidious
Jews pierced thy delicate and tender hands
and feet with most rough and blunt nails,
stretching them forth so violently with cords
to the holes which they made in the cross.
Thus they heaped dolors upon dolors, most
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250 THE PRAYEBS OF ST. BRIDGET.
cruelly disjointing all thy bones, breaking all
thy veins, and renewing all thy sacred wounds.
O most sweet Jesus, by the memory of all
these thy pains and torments upon the cross,
vouchsafe to give me thy fear and love, with
perfect charity towards my neighbour. Amen.
O most pious Lord Jesus, &c. &c.
4. O most sweet Lord Jesus, heavenly phy-
sician of human nature, and eternal king,
remember, I beseech thee, all those bitter pains
and torments which thou didst endure in thy
sacred members, who, being hoisted up upon
the cross, with all thy precious body rent and
tom, not having from the crown of thy head
to the sole of thy foot any part left unhurt;
so that no dolor could be compared to thine ;
at which time, being unmindful of thy own
torments, thou didst mercifully pray to thy
heavenly Father for thy cruel enemies, saying:
“ Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do.” O most meek and merciful
Lord Jesus, by this thy admirable benignity,
goodness, love, and mercy, and by all thy
bitter pains and torments, grant that the
memory of thy dolorous passion may be a
most powerful protection of my soul and body,
against all deceits, temptations, and moles-
tations of the devil, my cruel enemy. Amen.
O most merciful Lord Jesus, &c.
5. O most sweet Jesus Christ, mirror of
eternal brightness, and wisdom of the omni-
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THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 251
potent Father, remember the bitter grief and
sorrow thy sacred soul did feel, when beholding,
in the clear mirror of thy divine presence,
the predestination of thy elect, who through
the merits of thy most salutary passion were
to be saved ; and the reprobation of the wicked,
who for their ingratitude were to be damned ;
and the abyss of thy immense mercy, by which
thou didst commiserate and shed tears for us,
miserable, lost, and forlorn sinners ; and chiefly
by that mercy which thou didst show to the
thief upon the cross, saying to him, “ This
day thou shalt be with me in paradise;" I
beseech thee, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my
Lord and my God, to show the like mercy
unto me, now and at the hour of my death.
Amen.
O most sweet Lord Jesus, &c.
6. O most sweet Lord Jesus, omnipotent
king and most amiable friend, remember the
bitter grief and sorrow thy sacred soul did
suffer, when, being forsaken of all thy friends,
and acquaintances, thou didst hang naked,
rent, and torn upon the cross ; not having
any to comfort or compassionate thee only the
blessed and glorious Virgin Mary, thy mother;
who standing under the cross in the bitterness
of her soul, accompanied thee in all thy tor-
ments ; unto whom thou didst commend thy
beloved disciple, St. John, in thy place, saying
unto her, “ Woman, behold thy son ;" and after,
to thy disciple, “ Son, behold thy mother." O
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252 THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET.
most sweet Lord Jesus, by that sword of sorrow
which did then transpierce her sacred soul, and
by the tender love and compassion wherewith
thou didst behold the sad distresses of thy sorrow-
ful mother, have pity and compassion on me, I
beseech thee, my dearest Lord, and mercifiilly
help, comfort, succour, and assist me in all my
tribulations, adversities, necessities, sorrows,
and sufferings, both spiritual and corporal.
Amen.
O most blessed Lord Jesus, &c.
7. O most sweet and blessed Lord Jesus,
crown of joy, treasure of felicity, sweet source
of consolation, and unexhausted fountain Of
mercy ; who, hanging on the cross, out of the
most inflamed desire thou hadst for the salva-
tion of our souls, saidst, I thirst ; — viz. for the
redemption of mankind. O dearest Lord, by
this, thy ardent charity, inflame our hearts
with thy holy love, kindle our desire to accom-
plish diligently all good works, and wholly to
extinguish the heat of all evil concupiscence
and worldly affections in us. Amen.
O most sweet Lord Jesus, &c.
8. O most sweet Lord Jesus, the true light
of those who believe in thee, suavity of hearts,
and sovereign solace of all faithful souls, by
that bitter gall and vinegar thou didst taste
upon the cross at the hour of thy death, grant
us, miserable sinners, grace worthily to receive
at all times, particularly at the hour of our
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THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 253
death, thy most precious body and blood ; that
by the virtue of this divine banquet, and all
other salutary sacraments, we may be pre-
served from all evils, sin, and punishments,
and replenished with all joy, and securely
appear in thy divine presence. Amen.
O most sweet Lord Jesus, &c.
9. O most sweet Lord Jesus, source of all
regal virtue, and all mental jubilee, remember,
I beseech thee, those excessive pains and
anguishes thou didst endure for us upon the
cross, when, through the bitterness of death,
and the impious blasphemies, derisions, scorns,
and reproaches of the Jews, with a loud voice
and weeping eyes, thou didst cry to thy heavenly
Father, with this sad complaint: “Eli, Eli,
lamma sabacthani?” that is to say, “ My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?” O most
sweet Lord Jesus, by this thy bitter torment,
sorrow, grief, and anguish, vouchsafe, I beseech
thee, to have pity on me, and to succour me
in all my sorrows, sufferings, and tribulations,
and particularly at the hour of my death. O
then, my dearest Lord and my God, succour
me, and forsake me not, I beseech thee. Amen.
O most gracious Lord Jesus, &c.
10. O most sacred Lord Jesus, Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and ending of all things,
and mirror of all virtue, remember how, from the
crown of thy head to the sole of thy feet, thou
wert immerged in the deluge of thy dolorous
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254 THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET.
passion, for tlie love of us, vile sinners. O
most sweet Lord Jesus, by the length, breadth,
greatness, and multitude of thy sacred wounds,
take from me the love of the world, and teach
me by a true and perfect charity, always to
keep thy holy law and commandments. Amen.
O most wise Lord Jesus, &c.
11. O most sweet Lord Jesus, sovereign
goodness, eternal beatitude of thy saints, and
most profound abyss of mercy, by the deep
wounds which did not only transpierce thy
sacred flesh, hut even thy bowels, and the
marrow of thy hones, be merciful to me a
miserable sinner, who now am drowned in my
sins and iniquities, and hide me in thy sacred
wounds from the face of thy wrath, until thy
indignation be passed and appeased. Amen.
O most potent Lord Jesus, &c.
12. O most sweet Lord Jesus, mirror of
verity, pledge of unity and bond of charity !
remember the innumerable multitude of all those
painful wounds wherewith thou wert covered
from head to foot, all thy holy body most
cruelly rent and torn by impious Jews, and
dyed with thy most precious blood ; all which
most dreadful dolors thou didst endure for us vile
sinners. O most gracious Lord, engrave those
thy dolors deeply in my heart, and write them
there with thy precious blood, that in them I
may always read thy love and dolors ; so that
the memory of thy painful passion may daily
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THE PRATERS OF ST. BRIDGET. 255
be renewed in me, and my love increase
towards thee, and I remain perpetually thank-
ful to thy immense charity, to the last period
of my life, until I come to enjoy thee, my only
dear Lord, and most desired treasure, abound-
ing with all joy and felicity : which ^through
thy goodness be pleased to grant, O most sweet
Lord Jesus. Amen.
O most noble Lord Jesus, &c.
13. O most sweet Lord Jesus, most victorious
lion, most invincible, triumphant, and immortal
king ! remember, 1 beseech thee, all the bitter
pains and anguishes thou didst endure, when
all the forces of thy heart and body failing,
bowing down thy sacred head, thou saidst: “ It
is consummated.” O dearest Lord, by these
thy deadly dolors, have mercy on me at my
last passage, when my heart and soul shall be
in anguish and anxiety. Amen.
O most noble Lord J esus, &c.
14. O most sweet Lord Jesus, only begotten
Son of the eternal Father, figure of his sub-
stance, and splendour of his glory ! remember
that most earnest recommendation wherewith
thou didst commend thy sacred, sweet soul, to
thy omnipotent Father, upon the cross, saying:
“ Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
At which time thou didst hang naked on the
cross, with thy most holy body all over
wounded, rent, and torn, pouring forth streams
of thy most precious blood ; with thy face pale
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256 THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET.
and wan, thy head crowned with thorns, thy
arms extended, thy hands nailed, thy veins
bleeding, thy bowels of mercy opened, thy eyes
weeping and obscured, thy voice failing, thy
breast thirsting, and wholly heart-broken. O
my most merciful Lord, unto all these cruel
pains and torments didst thou deliver thy most
sacred, innocent, tender, pure, and precious
body for the redemption of us most wretched,
vile, and miserable sinners, and in this manner,
renderest thy sweet soul to thy celestial Father ;
by which most precious and innocent death of
thine, and by the virtue of thy holy cross, I
beseech thee, O Father of mercy and omnipotent
King of saints, to give me grace to resist
the world, the flesh, and the devil ; that being
dead to all terrestrial things, I may live to thee
alone, and have the happiness to be received
by thee at my last passage, when this my
miserable exile shall be ended. Amen.
O most pious Lord Jesus, &c.
15. O most sweet Lord Jesus, most flourish-
ing, true, and fruitful vine, remember the super-
abundant effusion of thy precious blood, which
thou didst pour forth so plentifully from all
parts of thy holy body, like a cluster of pressed
grapes ; when thou thyself alone didst tread
the vine-press on the cross, and out of thy
pierced side didst give us water and wine to
drink, not leaving so much as one drop, being
like a bundle of pure and precious myrrh :
thou wert suspended on high upon the cross,
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THE PRAYERS OF ST. BRIDGET.
257
at which time the liquor of thy bowels dried
up, the marrow of thy bones consumed, and
thy most delicate and tender body wholly
fainted and failed. O most sweet Lord Jesus,
by this most liberal effusion of thy precious
blood, by thy bitter death and passion, and all
thy sacred wounds, vouchsafe to wound my
heart with that tender love, wherewith the holy
heart of thy most blessed mother was wounded
under the cross, that tears of love and penance
may be my bread day and night ; and convert
me wholly to thee, that my heart may be thy
perpetual habitation, my conversation pleasing
and acceptable to thy divine Majesty, and the
end of my life so laudible, that having finished
this mortal pilgrimage, I may be admitted into
immortal glory, to praise and glorify thee my
sovereign Lord, in the sweet society of thy holy
angels and saints, to all eternity. Amen.
O most gracious Lord Jesus, be propitious to
me a sinner. Pater Noster. Ave Maria.
CONCLUSION.
O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the
living God, vouchsafe to receive these prayers,
in union with that most excellent love where-
with thou didst suffer all the wounds of thy
most precious body ; and be merciful to me
thy poor, unworthy servant, and all sinners,
with all faithful souls, both living and dead ;
graciously granting to us all mercy, grace,
remission of sins, and life everlasting. Amen.
y 2
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DEVOTIONS
TO THE
SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
That the Associates of the Sacred Heart may discharge
the obligations required of them, they should daily re-
{>eat one Pater , one Ave, and the Creed, with the fol-
owing aspiration : Adorable Heart of Jesus, grant
that I may increase in thy love . They should also spend
one hour in the year, at their own choosing, in the
presence of the blessed Sacrament, in making acts of
reparation, &c.
ACT OF CONSECRATION.
To thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus ; I devote
and offer up my life, thoughts, words, actions,
pains, and sufferings. To thee I consecrate my
soul and body, with all the faculties and senses
thereof, so that no part of my being may any
longer be employed, but in loving, serving,
honouring, and glorifying thee. Be thou, O
most Sacred Heart ! the sole object of my love,
the protector of my life, the pledge of my salva-
tion, and my secure refuge at the hour of my
death. Be thou also, O most bountiful Heart !
my justification at the throne of God, and
screen me from his anger, which I have so justly
merited. In thee 1 place all my confidence,
and convinced, as I am, of my own weakness,
I rely entirely on thy compassionate mercy.
Annihilate in me all that is displeasing and
offensive to thy pure eye. Imprint thyself like
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DEVOTIONS, ETC.
259
a divine seal on my heart, that I may ever
remember my obligations, and never be sepa-
rated from thee. May my name also I beseech,
thee, by thy tender goodness, ever be fixed and
engraved in thee, O Book of Life ! and may I
ever be a victim consecrated to thy glory, ever
burning with the flames of thy pure love, and
entirely penetrated with it for all eternity ! In
this I place all my happiness ; this is all my
desire, to live and die in no other quality, but
that of thy devoted servant. Amen.
THE LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF
JESUS.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God, the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Heart of Jesus,
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the
most Blessed Virgin,
Heart of Jesus, hypostatically united to
the eternal Word,
Heart of Jesus, sanctuary of the Divi-
nity, and tabernacle of the most holy
Trinity,
&
©
3
J
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260
DEVOTIONS TO THE
Heart of Jesus, temple of sanctity and -
fountain of all graces,
Heart of Jesus, most meek and humble,
Heart of J esus, most chaste and obedient,
Heart of Jesus, furnace of love, and source
of contrition,
Heart of Jesus, treasure of wisdom and
goodness,
Heart of Jesus, throne of mercy, and
abyss of all virtues.
Heart of Jesus, sorrowful in the garden,
and spent with a bloody sweat,
Heart of J esus, saturated with reproaches,
and consumed for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, made obedient even unto
the death of the cross,
Heart of Jesus, pierced through with a
lance,
Heart of Jesus, refuge of sinners,
Heart of Jesus, fortitude of the just, and
comfort of the afflicted,
Heart of Jesus, main strength of the
tempted, and terror of the devils.
Heart of Jesus, sanctification of hearts,
Heart of J esus, perseverance of the good,
and hope of the dying,
Heart of J esus, joy of the blessed, and the
delight of all the saints,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins
of the world, spare us, O Jesus !
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins
of the world, hear us, O Jesus !
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Have mercy on m.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 261
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins
of the world, have mercy on us, O Jesus !
V. O most sacred heart of Jesus, have mercy
on us.
R. That we may worthily love thee with
our whole hearts.
LET CS PRAY.
O God, who out of thy immense love, hast
given to the faithful the most sacred Heart of
thy Son, our Lord, as the object of thy tender
affection ; grant, we beseech thee, that we may
so love and honour this pledge of thy love on
earth, as by it to merit the love both of thee
and tliy gift, and to be eternally loved by thee
and this most blessed Heart in heaven : through
the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Through thy sacred Heart, O Jesus, over-
flowing with all sweetness, we recommend to
thee ourselves, and all our concerns, our friends,
benefactors, parents, and relations, our su-
periors, and enemies ; take under thy protection
this house, city, and kingdom; extend thy
care to all such as lie under any affliction, and
to those who labour in the agony and pangs
of death; cast an eye of compassion on the
obstinate sinner, and more particularly on the
poor suffering souls in purgatory ; as also on
those who are engaged and united with us in
the holy confederacy of honouring and worship-
ping thee. Bless these in particular, O divine
Jesus ! and bless them according to the extent of
thy infinite goodness, mercy, and charity. Amen.
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262
DEVOTIONS TO THE
A REPARATION OF HONOUR TO THE SACRED HEART.
To be made on the Feast itself, or at any other time, in
presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
O most amiable and adorable Heart of
Jesus ! centre of all hearts, glowing with
charity, and inflamed with zeal for the interest
of thy Father and the salvation of mankind ;
O Heart, ever sensible of our misery, and ever
ready to redress our evils ; the real victim of
love in the holy Eucharist, and a propitiatory
sacrifice for sin on the altar of the cross !
seeing that the generality of Christians make
no other return for these thy mercies, than
contempt for thy favours, forgetfulness of their
own obligations, and ingratitude to the best of
benefactors ; is it not just that we thy servants,
penetrated with the deepest sense of such in-
dignities, should, as far as in our power, make
a due and satisfactory reparation of honour to
thy most sacred Majesty ? Prostrate, therefore,
in body, and humbled in mind, before heaven
and earth, we solemnly declare our utter de-
testation and abhorrence of such conduct. In-
expressible, we know, was the bitterness which
the multitude of our sins brought on thy tender
heart ; insufferable the weight of our iniquities,
which pressed thy face to the earth in the
garden of Olives ; and insurmountable thy
anguish, when expiring with love, grief, and
agony, on Mount Calvary, in thy last breath
thou wouldst reclaim sinners to their duty and
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SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 263
repentance. This we know, O dear Redeemer !
and would most willingly redress these thy
sufferings by our own, or share with thee in
thine!
O merciful Jesus ! ever present on our altars,
and with a heart open to receive all who labour
and are burdened ! O adorable heart of Jesus,
source of true contrition, impart to our hearts
the true spirit of penance, and to our eyes a
fountain of tears, that we may bewail our
sins, and the sins of the world. Pardon,
divine Jesus! all the injuries and outrages
done to thee in the course of thy holy life and
bitter passion. Pardon all the impieties, irre-
verences, and sacrileges, which have been
committed against thee in the holy sacrament
of the Eucharist, since its first institution : —
graciously receive the small tribute of our
sincere repentance, as an agreeable offering in
thy sight, and in requital for the benefits we
daily receive from thy altar, where thou art a
living and continual sacrifice, and in union
with that bloody holocaust thou didst present
to thy eternal Father, on Mount Calvary.
Sweet Jesus ! give thy blessing to the ardent
desire we now entertain, and the holy resolution
we have taken, of ever loving and adoring
thee, with our whole mind and with our whole
heart, in the sacrament of thy love; thus to
repair, by a' true conversion of heart, and a
zeal for thy glory, our past negligence and
infidelities. Be thou, O adorable Heart ! who
knowest the clay of which we are formed, be
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264
DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
thou our mediator with thy heavenly Father,
whom we have so grievously offended ; strengthen
our weakness, confirm our resolution, and with
thy charity, humility, meekness, and patience,
cover the multitude of our iniquities. Be thou
our support, our refuge, and our strength, that
nothing henceforward in life or death may
separate us from thee. Amen.
DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
INSTRUCTION.
The state of sickness and sufferings is to be regarded
as a fatherly visitation, whereby God knocks at die door
of our hearts, to put us in mind of our mortality. It is a
call from heaven, a timely warning to prepare for eternity,
by spending the remainder of our life in the love and service
of our Creator. It is the touchstone of patience, the school,
or rather the harvest of penance, resignation, and every
Christian virtue. It is the test of our love, by which we
may judge whether we acquit ourselves of duties that are
agreeable to nature, in conformity to the will of God, or
only do them because they are agreeable to our own will.
We know not what we are until we are tried. It costs us
nothing to say, “We love thee, O God, above all things
or to show the courage of martyrs at a distance, when we
have nothing to cross or thwart our inclinations ; but that
love is sincere which stands the proof.
If we loved God sincerely, we would on all occasions
embrace, desire, and find no happiness but in the accom-
plishment of his holy will. We would be prepared to bear
whatever crosses and calamities he is pleased to send us,
with a patient resignation. We would rejoice in them as
the greatest blessings, and the sources of immortal crowns.
We would regard them as precious talents, to be improved
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DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
265
by the increase of our love and affection for God, and the
exercise of the most heroic virtues of self-denial, patience,
humility, &c.
To be dejected and impatient under sickness and trials,
to indulge murmurs and complaints, to repine and call our-
selves wretched and unhappy, &c., are signs that an
inordinate self-love reigns in our hearts, and that we seek
our own inclinations more than the will of God, who has
bequeathed the cross to his elect, as their portion and in-
heritance in this world. It is in vain that we take the
name of Christians, or pretend to follow Christ, unless we
also carry our cross after his example. It is in vain for
us to expect to be glorified with Jesus, unless we also
suffer with Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us on the
cross, that he might unite us, by it, eternally to himself.
We cannot arrive at heaven by any other road. If we
courageously embrace our cross, God will be our comfort
and support, as he was the comfort and support of the
holy martyrs under the most severe trials. He will not
forsake us, unless we first forsake him by sin.
Too nice and anxious a care of health, is also an
evident sign of inordinate self-love, and hatred of mortifi-
cation. Nevertheless, as a man is not master of his own
life or health, he is bound to take a moderate and reason-
able care not to throw either of them away, nor neglect
the essential prescriptions of physicians in the simple and
ordinary remedies and succours of medicine, nut he
who trusts more in the art of physicians than in the Lord,
deserves to be disappointed, like Asa, king of Juda, who
became the victim of death, because he placed more con-
fidence in his physicians than in God. Wherefore a Chris-
tian in his sickness should, in the first place, consider
God as his chief physician, make his peace with him, and
seek the health of his soul, by having recourse to the
holy sacraments in due time, whilst he is in a condition
to receive them with the proper dispositions. If he be in
debt, or has any restitution or satisfaction to make, he
should take care to have these obligations discharged to the
best of his power. He should settle his temporal affairs
without delay, that he may wholly apply nis thoughts
afterwards, without any disturbance, to the care of his
immortal soul. He ought to beg of God to extinguish
in him all self-love, and to dispose of him as he pleases.
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DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
He ought to excite in his soul devout acts of faith, hope,
charity, contrition, patience, resignation, &c. He should
endeavour to sanctify his sufferings, by receiving them
from the hand of God, by bearing them in the spirit of
penance, by offering them in satisfaction for his sins, and
by uniting them with the sufferings of his blessed Saviour
and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. — “ Omnia si par das, animam
servare memento 11 Although you should lose every-
thing else, be careful to save your soul.”
▲ PRAYER IN THE BEGINNING OF SICKNESS.
O mv God, I accept this sickness with which
thou art pleased to visit me, as a favour from
thy heavenly hand. I accept all its circum-
stances and consequences, in satisfaction for my
sins. Thou hast given me health and strength,
O Lord, and thou hast taken them away : may
thy holy name, O Lord, be blessed for ever. I
how down my whole soul to adore thee in all
thy appointments. I resign myself entirely into
the hands of thy providence, and acknowledge
that thou dost treat me with too much indul-
gence. I know I deserve greater evils than
those I now endure, and that I merit, by my
sins, pains infinitely greater than even the pains
of hell, where I would long since have been,
had not thy pure mercy interposed between my
soul and thy justice. Alas ! how many are now
suffering there for crimes less than mine ? My
pains are nothing in comparison to theirs. I
have no reason to complain. O may thy holy
will he done on earth as it is in heaven. I offer
myself, with an entire submission, to suffer
whatever thou pleasest, as long as thou pleasest,
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DEVOTIONS FOB THE SICK. 267
and in what manner thou pleasest. May this
sickness be to the honour of thy holy name, and
to the good of my soul. But, O Lord, have
regard to my weakness, and deal not with me
according to my sins; but according to the
multitude of thy tender mercies have compas-
sion on me. Confirm my soul with strength
from above, that I may be patient under all
uneasiness, pain, disquietudes, and difficulties
of my illness. Grant that I may cheerfully
submit to them, as a just punishment of my
manifold offences, and duly offer them in con-
junction with the sufferings and death of my
blessed Redeemer on the cross, through whose
merits I look for mercy, and hope to possess
eternal life. Have pity on me, O most loving
father ! clothe me with thy grace, and receive
me into the arms of thy mercy. Create a clean
heart within me, O God, and renew an upright
spirit within my bowels ; cast out from thence
whatever profanes or defiles thy temple $ destroy
and root out what is displeasing to thee, and
lay in me the foundation of a new life, either
for this world or the world to come. I am
heartily sorry that I ever offended thy infinite
goodness, in thought, word, deed, or omission.
I most humbly implore thy pardon for all my
sins, I now propose not to offend thee any more,
and to avoid every thing that may be to me an
occasion of sin. I resolve to make restitution
and satisfaction for the injuries I have com-
mitted. For the love of thee, I sincerely for-
give all those who have injured me or done me
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wrong; I beseech thee to pardon them and
grant them the same blessing that I desire for
my own soul. With the utmost humility I also
heartily beg pardon of all those to whom I have
given any offence, whether by ill example, by
words, deeds, or any other way, deliberately
or unknowingly. Thou seest, O Lord, how
frail I am, and that I am nothing hut dust and
ashes ; preserve me from all temptations, and
he thou my defence against all the assaults of
the evil spirit, that in this sickness I may no
way offend thee : and if this is to he my last, I
beg of thee so to direct me by thy grace, that
I may not neglect the necessary means of
salvation, nor he deprived of any of those
powerful helps which thou hast in thy mercy
ordained for the good of my soul. Prepare it,
0 Lord, for its passage into eternity; that
being perfectly cleansed from all my iniquities,
1 may he admitted one day into the kingdom
of thy glory, there to love and praise thee for
ever, in the company of thy blessed angels and
saints. Amen.
“ Lord, thy thorns are my roses, and thy suf-
fering my paradise.” St . Felix .
“ Tears of devotion are sweeter than the joys
of theatres.” St. Augustine .
▲ PRAYER BEFORE RECEIVING THE VIATICUM.
O my blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ, I
firmly believe thou art really present in this
venerable sacrament, which I am now about
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to receive by way of viaticum. I believe it
contains thy sacred body and blood, accom-
panied with thy soul and divinity. I desire to
receive this heavenly banquet for thy honour
and glory, and the good of my soul, that I
may be happily united to thee. I desire to
commemorate thy sufferings as thou hast com-
manded. But how shall I dare to approach
thee? — so wretched a worm, to so infinite a
majesty ! so filthy a sinner, to so infinite purity
ana sanctity ! It is therefore in thy mercy that
I place my whole trust; and since thou art
pleased to invite thyself into so poor, so
wretched so mean a cottage as this of my
breast, vouchsafe, I beseech thee, to grant me
those graces, and that reverence, humility, and
devotion, which may prepare a fit abode for
thy reception. Cleanse my soul from every
foul stain of sin, clothe it with the nuptial
garment of charity, and adorn it with all vir-
tues. I come to thee, like Magdalen, that I
may be delivered from all my evils, and that I
may embrace thee, my only good. I detest
with my whole heart, all the sins of my past
life, because they have offended thy goodness.
I desire to lay them all down here at thy feet,
to be cancelled by thy precious blood. I am
sorry for them, and will be sorry for them as
long as I live. I will bewail them in the bit-
terness of my soul. They are many and grievous,
it is true ; yet they are nothing when compared
to thy boundless mercy, and to the infinite
ransom of thy precious blood. Forgive me,
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then, sweet Jesus, for thy mercy’s sake; have
pity on me and save me, since thou forsakest
none that place their hope in thee. I love thee,
my God, with my whole heart and soul, and
above all things in heaven and on earth! at
least I earnestly desire so to love thee, and
consecrate myself eternally to thee. O come
and take full possession of my heart for ever ;
I offer it to thee without reserve ; O come and
inflame it with the celestial fire of thy divine
love, and let nothing in life or death ever again
separate me from thee. O sweet J esus, prepare
me for a worthy reception of the blessing thou
art now about to bestow on me. I adore and
worship thee, humbled in mind and body, and
confess myself to be nothing but dust and ashes
in thy presence. It is my confidence in thy
goodness that makes me presume to approach
thee, for I cannot but acknowledge myself infi-
nitely unworthy. Domine non mm dtgnus, &c.
For a Prayer after receiving the Viaticum, see page 128.
▲ PRAYER BEFORE EXTREME UNCTION.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who, in the abundance
of thy mercy, hast provided powerful resources
for relief in all our necessities, grant me grace
to have recourse to them with such worthy
dispositions that my soul may partake of all
those great advantages and salutary effects
which thou hast appointed in their institution.
Thou hast instituted the sacrament of Extreme
Unction for the benefit of the sick, who, in the
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extremity of life, stand in need of more graces,
more helps, and more consolation, than ever.
I now desire to receive this heavenly medicine,
for the ends for which it has been instituted.
1 am willing to be anointed, as thou hast
commanded by thy apostle St James. Grant,
I beseech thee, that this holy Unction may
produce in me all its happy fruits, by healing
my soul from the ulcers of sin, by fortifying
me against all temptations, by supporting me
in the hour of anguish and distress, and by
preparing me for a happy passage out of this
life, or whatever may be thy holy will. Shouldst
thou foresee that my health may be conducive
to thy greater glory, and expedient for my
eternal salvation, let this be the means to
restore it. I absolutely submit myself to thy
divine will and pleasure. I wish not to live
but to serve thee. Dispose of me as thou
knowest best ; do with me as thou pleasest.
All I desire is the accomplishment of thy most
holy will. Give me health or sickness, life or
death ; give me whatsoever thou pleasest : not
my will, O Lord, but thine be done : it is a
greater happiness to fulfil thy will, than to
enjoy ten thousand lives. O how happy should
I be, if the destruction of my body could repair
the injury I have offered to thy divine Majesty !
My eyes, alas! have seen vanities; my ears
have been open to detractions, to profane and
unprofitable discourses ; my tongue has many
ways offended thee, both in speaking and
tasting; my hands have contributed to my
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DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
follies ; my feet have often gone astray in the
paths of vanity and sin. By this holy anoint-
ing, and the prayers of thy church, pardon me,
O Jesus, all the sins I have ever committed
by these my five senses. Let those avenues
through which sin has made its way into my
soul, be now shut to the world ; let my eyes
be open to thee alone, my Jesus ; let my ears
be now attentive to thy commands, and to thy
call ; let my tongue be solely employed in
crying out for mercy ; let my prayers ascend
like incense in thy sight ; let my hands be
lifted up to heaven for pardon; let my feet
walk in thy ways ; and let my heart be the
living temple of the Holy Ghost. Into thy
hands, O dear Jesus, I commend my spirit.
In thee I will live, in thee I will die, in thee I
will abide, and in thee I hope to possess eter-
nal rest and heavenly joy for ever and ever.
Amen.
▲ PRAYER AFTER EXTREME UNCTION.
O my God, thou hast created, redeemed, and
sanctified me; thou hast preserved me in many
dangers both of soul and body ; thou hast
nourished me with the adorable sacrament of
thy body and blood, and granted me the grace
to receive the rights of thy church, preferably
to so many others, who are carried off by a
sudden death, without being favoured with those
succours and graces which thou hast bestowed
upon me, a most ungrateful sinner. For these
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and all thy other blessings, I offer thee in-
numerable thanks. O that I had as many
tongues and hearts as there are stars in the
heavens, atoms in the air, and creatures in
the universe ; how willingly would I employ
them all in praising, loving, and glorifying
thee ! To thee I resign my heart: receive it as
a holocaust. Into thy hands, O Lord, I com-
mend my spirit : receive me, O dear Jesus, in
thy mercy ; receive me into thy loving arms,
which were stretched forth on the cross for my
redemption; receive me into the embraces of
thy infinite charity. I do not desire to be freed
from my pains ; thou knowest what is best for
me : do but take from me all murmuring, and
give me patience to suffer whatever thou wiliest,
and as long as thou pleasest. Should it be thy
divine pleasure to inflict on my weak body and
languishing soul greater punishments than I
now suffer, my heart is ready, O Lord, my
heart is ready to accept them, and to suffer in
whatever manner and measure may be most
conformable to thy will. This one grace I
most earnestly beg of thee, my God — that I
may die the death of the just, and be admitted,
after the sufferings and tribulations of this
transitory and sinful life, into the kingdom
of thy glory, there to see and enjoy thee, in
the company of the blessed, for a never-ending
eternity. Amen.
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DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
SHORT ACTS OF VIRTUE IN TIME OF SICKNESS.
I acknowledge, O Lord, that I am a sin-
ner; accept, therefore, of what I now suffer,
in atonement for my sins. Help me to receive
with submission and resignation, whatever
afflictions thou shalt please to send me.
I am content to suffer here, provided thou
dost spare me hereafter. I know that it is by
many tribulations we must enter into the king-
dom of heaven. I know that those who would
be glorified with Jesus, must also suffer with
Jesus. I am convinced, that the sufferings of
this present time are not to be set in competi-
tion with the eternal glory which shall be
revealed in us. I believe that the present
momentary and light tribulation worketh in us,
above measure, an eternal weight of glory.
I offer myself, and all that I have, or am, to
thee. Do with me, my God, whatever thou
pleasest. Shall I not drink the cup which my
Father hath given me? Not my will, but
thine be done.
O sweetness of my heart, and love of my
soul ! take off my heart and thought from this
world, that all my comfort may be in thee. O
when will thy kingdom come ? O Lord, when
wilt thou perfectly reign in all hearts ? when
shall sin be no more ? Wound my heart with
thy love, that it may relish nothing that is
earthly. O that I had never offended so good
a God ! O that I had never sinned ! Happy
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those souls that have always preserved their
baptismal innocence.
O my God, all my hopes are in thee. —
Through Jesus Christ my Redeemer, I hope
for mercy, grace, and salvation.
0 sweet and adorable Jesus! O spotless
Lamb ! O innocent victim ! who by thy passion
and death hath effaced the sins of mankind,
blot out my iniquities, and do not permit that
thy sufferings should become useless to me.
Look, O God, on this poor piece of clay, and
help me in my distress. O my J esus ! I love
thee ; I love thee above all things, and desire
to love thee alone, because thou alone art
worthy of my love.
1 cast myself into the arms of thy holy love.
I abandon myself entirely to thy blessed will.
My unworthiness humbles and confounds me ;
but the sight of thy wounds, O Jesus, proclaims
aloud ‘how great thy mercy is, and how far it
exceeds my misery.
O boundless love of my Jesus ! inflame my
heart with thy heavenly fire. Consume in me
all earthly affections, and confirm my soul in
thy holy love for ever.
O Jesus, torn with stripes, pierced with
thorns, and weltering in blood, for my sake !
teach me to endure for the love of thee, the
anguish and inconvenience of my infirmities
and sickness.
O Jesus, raised upon the cross, attract me
now most powerfully to thyself, that my whole
occupation may be to love, praise, and adore
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276 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK.
tliee for ever. Hail, sacred wounds of the
hands and feet of Jesus ! Hail precious streams
of blood, that flowed from those painful wounds !
Infinite praise, honour, and glory be to thee,
my amiable Redeemer, for suffering such pains
for the love of me. Ah, how does it pierce my
heart with sorrow, to contemplate thee, and to
consider the torments thou didst suffer for my
salvation.
Hail, sacred wound of the side of Jesus !
hail, blessed passage to the sacred heart of my
divine Redeemer ! O that I could contemplate
thee with the love of a Magdalen, and melt
into tears of sweet devotion in honor of thee !
By the sacred wounds of thy hands, of thy
feet, and of thy side ; by the precious streams
that flowed from them ; by thy blessed heart,
burning with love for me $ I beg and beseech
thee never to forsake me, but to grant me what-
ever thou seest necessary for the sanctification
of my soul.
Glory be to the Father, who by his power
hath brought me forth from nothing, and made
me to his own image and likeness. Glory be
to the Son, who by his wisdom hath delivered
me from hell, and opened for me the gates of
Heaven. Glory be to the Holy Ghost, who by
his mercy hath sanctified me in baptism, and
still continues to sanctify me by the graces
which I daily receive. Glory be the three
£ durable persons of the blessed Trinity. O may
I behold and glorify eternally in heaven, what
I believe, adore, and worship on earth — one
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God and three Persons, the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
“ Here we have no permanent city : hut we
seek that which is to come.” — Heb. xiii. 14.
“ While we are in the body we are strangers
from the Lord.” — 2 Cor . v. 6.
“ Whether we live or die, we belong to the
Lord.” — Rom . xiv. 8.
A PRAYER OP THANKSGIVING. UPON THE RECOVERY OP
A PERSON FROM THE BED OP 8ICKNESS.
Almighty and everlasting God, I here ac-
knowledge thy blessing in the recovery of my
health, and return thee my most hearty thanks
for it. 1 beg thy grace for the making a better
use of it than hitherto 1 have done ; that I may
correct all the errors of my past life, that I
may improve in virtue, be an example to others,
and dedicate that health to thee, which is now
thy special gift ; that thus living to thee, I may
be ever prepared for my last hour: through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; may he be
praised and glorified for ever.
Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and forget not
all his benefits.
Blessed be the Lord, God of our fathers ; let
praise and glory be given to him for ever.
I will praise thee, O my God, while I live ;
I will glorify thy holy name while I have my
being.
O magnify the Lord with me, all ye holy
angels : praise him, all ye saints.
2 A
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
I will bless the Lord at all times : his praise
shall be ever in my mouth.
. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good, for his
mercy endureth for ever.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, from hence-
forth, now, and for ever.
From the rising of the sun unto the going
down of the same, the name of the Lord is
worthy of praise. Glory, &c.
PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
INSTRUCTION.
The last moments of a Christian are not only the most
precious of his life, but to him of the greatest importance,
as on them depends his eternal lot. It is then Satan uses
his utmost efforts to accomplish the ruin of a soul. His
snares and batteries are more subtle and violent at the ex-
tremity, than at any other period, of life; for it is then, as
the apostle says, (Rev. xii.) “he cometh down, having
great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.” Hence
it becomes the indispensable duty of every soldier of J esus
Christ, frequently to exercise himself in acts of faith, hope,
eharity, confidence, fortitude, and perseverance; that by
the familiar use of these spiritual weapons during life, he
may be enabled to encounter the mortal enemy of his soul
in his last conflict, and defeat all his malicious designs.
When the disorder of a sick person has the appearance
of danger, every spiritual help should be offered him be-
fore he loses the use of his senses ; for which reason it
would be very unfriendly to flatter him with the hopes of
recovery, or to be negligent in exhorting him to make the
best use of the little tame which perhaps he has to live, in
preparing for his voyage to eternity ; and since a truly
penitential spirit is the best security to a Christian in life
or death, he ought to be urged to secure it to himself by
the most perfect acts of compunction, resignation, faith,
hope, ana divine love. For this purpose he should keep
himself as much as possible in the divine presence, and in
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 279
the blessed company of Jesus Christ, the perfect model of
suffering Christians. He should converse frequently with
him, cast himself in spirit at his feet, like Magdalen ; be-
wail his sins in the bitterness of his soul, and cry out for
mercy while there is yet time for mercy. He should
place a crucifix, or picture of his crucified Redeemer, be-
fore his eyes ; think often upon his passion, his agony in
the garden and on the ’cross ; consider him nailed and fast-
ened on that bed of sorrow, without moving either hand or
foot, or having any other pillow to support his head but a
crown of thorns. He should fly to his bleeding wounds,
there to bathe his soul, and find a cure for all his disorders.
He should be excitea by these considerations to make a
voluntary sacrifice of himself to the Divine Will ; bear all
his pains with patience; accept of death as the just
punishment due to his sins ; and offer it up in union with
the death of Jesus Christ, that being united thereto, it
may become precious in the sight of the Lord. He should
frequently raise his thoughts above this world, and fix
them on heaven — making it the object of his contemplation,
and the centre of all his desires. He should consider
what a happy thing it is to see and enjoy God eternally ;
and that the longer he remains here below, the more he
lies exposed to the danger of offending him. b'ar? there-
fore, from being disturbed at the thoughts of quitting a
wicked, treacherous, and deceitful world, he should rather
endeavour to enter into the sentiments of St. Paul, who
u longed to be dissolved, and to be with Jesus Christ.”
Instead of being sorry or unwilling to be disengaged from
a frail body, subject to a thousand infirmities, he should
rather, like King David, thirst after the happy hour that
is to put him in possession of that eternal kingdom of
glory, for the enjoyment of which he was created.
In effect, if the seafaring man long for his arrival in
the port of his destination ; if the military man wish for
an and of the campaign, and long for the day that is to
restore him to his friends, crowned with laurels, and
enriched with spoils and trophies ; if the wearied traveller
pant after his native soil, and wish for the end of his
Journey ; if the captive long to be freed from his chains ;
if the farmer , after the toils and fatigues of the winter,
rejoice at the bright prospect of the approaching harvest ;
why should not a Christian long for the end of the labo-
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
nous winter of this life, in order to reap the sweet fruits
of his past labours P why should he not be charmed with
the well-grounded hope of entering into the joys of his
Lord, ana finding the gates of heaven open to receive
his soul P why should he not wish to be rescued out of the
stormy sea of this world, and arrive safely in the harbour
of eternal life P why should he not long for the end of the
spiritual warfare wherein he is constantly engaged, in
order to receive that never-fading crown of glory, which
is reserved in the kingdom of heaven for such as conquer f
why should he not welcome the happy hour of his death,
which is to restore him to his native country, fix him in
his proper habitation, secure him from the embarrassments
and snares of this mortal life, and translate him to the
glorious society of the holy apostles, martyrs, confessors,
virgins, and an innumerable host of heavenly citizens,
who await him, and long to congratulate his happy
arrival P w Which amongst us,” says St. Cyprian, u wno
for a long time had been a sojourner in a foreign country
would not anxiously desire to return to his native soil P
What person would not wish for a prosperous gale of wind
to waft him with expedition to his favourite home, that he
might the sooner embrace his friends and relations P
Heaven is our native country; here we are but strangers,
captives, and pilgrims. Here we have no permanent city ;
but there we snail be at home in our F ather s house. Here
we are exiles and travellers, hastening to the end of our
journey. This world is a tempestuous ocean, full of rocks
and quicksands, wherein we are constantly tossed to and
fro by storms and hurricanes, tortured between hopes and
fears, and every moment exposed to the danger of being
shipwrecked. “ O how happy are they,” continues St.
Cyprian, u who, after being delivered from these storms and
hurricanes, have happily arrived at the haven of everlast-
ing bliss !” How happy are they who are removed from the
dangers of sin, and freed from the assaults of the devil,
and the conflict of their passions ! How happy are they
who are withdrawn from the miseries of this perishable
life, and have put on a glorious immortality ! Who would
not rejoice to obtain everlasting rest, out of the reach of
danger P Who would not cheerfully quit this sinful
Babylon, to spend an eternity in the presence of God, and
live for ever with J esus Christ, in the company of millions
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of saints and angels ! O blessed be that Divine Providence?
that infinite goodness, which has provided a better world
to receive us, and there promises us eternal life : Hence
hath St. Teresa exclaimed : “ O death, I know not who
can fear thee, since it is by thee that we find life.”
Too great a love of life betrays a want of that lively
faith and confidence, which, by fortifying the mind of a
Christian, enables him to stare death in the face, and
despise that king of terrors. It is now more than ever
incumbent on us to comply with the obligation we lie
under, of suppressing inordinate self-love in our hearts,
and of doing, not our own, but the will of our heavenly
Father; for how inconsistent would it be to desire that ms
will may be done on earth , as it is in heaven , if upon sum-
moningus to quit this world, we are reluctant and unwilling
to obey his call P With what propriety can we say, thy
kingdom comey whilst we evidently betray a desire of re-
maining here in a state of bondage to our passions and sub-
jection to the devil, rather than accept the invitation to go
and live with Jesus Christ, in the kingdom which he has
Surchased for us at the expense of his sacred blood. To
ie well or ill, is all that should give us trouble. We know
for certain that death is the only way to eternal happiness ;
that the cross is the ladder by which we should ascend to
heaven ; and that through many sufferings and tribulations
we must endeavour to enter into it. Christ himself died be-
fore he entered into his glory. We cannot arrive at heaven
by any other road. It is the only gate to life everlasting.
It is a passage from a valley of tears to a region of un-
speakable bliss. It is a deliverance from a continual war-
fare, in which we are surrounded with a thousand dangers
of perishing. It is a happy exemption from the temptation
of the devil, the world, and the flesh, which are our
capital enemies. Animated therefore, with a bright pros-
pect of eternal happiness at our departure, we should
consider the pangs of death as nothing else but the
breaking down of that partition which stands betwixt the
soul and the sight of its sovereign good.
“ The body is a tottering edifice, which must neces-
sarily fall, that the soul may be at rest. It is like the
scaffolding which architects make use of to erect a
palace ; but which they take away after the building is
finished.” — Clement XIV. — "Picture of Man.
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SHORT ACTS OF VIRTUE,
Which may be leisurely and distinctly suggested to sick
persons in time of danger, yet so as not to fatigue them
with too much reading.
0 my God, I firmly believe whatever thy
holy Catholic Church believes and teaches,
and with the assistance of thy divine grace, I
will die in this belief. Increase, O Lord, and
strengthen my faith.
In thee, O Lord, I place my whole confi-
dence. I hope to possess eternal life through
thy infinite mercy and the merits of my Saviour
Christ Jesus. O let me not be confounded for
ever. My God! I love thee with my whole
heart and soul, above all things, because thou
art infinitely good and worthy of all love.
1 love my neighbour, nay, and even my
enemies, for the love of thee. O my God, it
grieves me to the soul for having so ill-served
so good a master. O that my heart could break
asunder with sorrow for having offended thee
by the sins of my past life ! O that I had never
offended so good a God ! O unhappy day that
I neglected to love thee ! Too late, too late
have I begun to love thee. I confess mine
iniquities are many and grievous ; but they
cannot lessen my confidence in thy mercies,
which are infinitely greater than my sins.
I most humbly ask pardon for them. I detest
them because they displease thee. O God, be
merciful to me a sinner. O grant me a true
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and sincere contrition, and let not the enemy
of my soul have any power over me, either now
or at my last hour.
Pardon me, O Jesus. Hear me, O Jesus.
Save me, O Jesus. I renounce from this mo-
ment, and for all eternity, the devil and all his
works. I abhor all his suggestions and temp-
tations. I will, by no means, give admittance
or consent to them.
Grant me, O Lord, the most precious gift
of final perseverance, that whenever my hour
comes, I may die in thy grace. I beg pardon
of all those whom I have any way offended,
and I sincerely forgive all those who have any
way offended or injured me, or who wish me
any kind of evil whatsoever.
I recommend my soul to God my Creator,
who made me out of nothing ; to J esus Christ
my Saviour, who redeemed me with his blood;
to the Holy Ghost, who sanctified me in the
water of baptism.
Praise, honour, and glory, be to thy name for
ever, O my God, for all the graces and benefits
which I have received from thy bounty during
the whole course of my life.
May thy providence be ever blessed and
praised for all the sufferings I have endured :
O receive them in satisfaction for my sins. I
offer up to thee, O my crucified Redeemer, all
that I now suffer, or may have yet to suffer,
to be united to, and to be sanctified by thy
passion.
I am content to suffer here, in hopes that
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
my momentary pains and sufferings will be
soon changed into an eternity of happiness and
comfort.
Let the flesh suffer and perish, so that the
spirit may be safe. Scourge and afflict my
body ; and spare my soul for all eternity.
Here wound me, here burn me, here cut me
asunder ; but spare me at my last hour.
My whole confidence, either of living or dying
well, is grounded on the infinite merits of my
Redeemer’s death and passion, and the blood
he hath shed for my sins.
Receive, O eternal Father, his precious
merits, in full satisfaction for all my offences.
O let me never be separated from thee.
Wound my heart with thy love, that it may
relish nothing that is earthly. Take off my
thoughts from this mortal life, that all my
comfort may be placed in thee alone.
Dispose of my soul that it may be prepared
at thy call to go forth and meet thee, and become
thy habitation for ever.
To thee I resign my heart, and bequeath my
soul. O do not cast me off amongst the re-
probate ; but make me fit to appear m thy
sight.
O happy hour ! when shall I behold thee ?
O sweet Jesus ! when shalll I appear before thy
face? When shall I be disengaged from this
earthly habitation, that I may come to the
enjoyment of thee ? When shall I be released
from this prison, this miserable Babylon, this
place of banishment, that I may bless thy
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 285
name, and join with thy angels and saints
in thy everlasting praise?
When shall I lay down this cumbrous weight
of flesh, and he delivered from this body of
death, which I have loved too well ?
Thou hast in thy justice decreed that I
should die. I most humbly submit to the sen-
tence, and readily accept it in the spirit of
penance, in order to honour thee by the sa-
crifice of my life, and to give a proof of my
obedience to thy orders.
I am content to die for thy glory, and to testify
that I love thee better than myself
I am content to die, that I may no longer
offend thee, hut that I may love thee, possess
thee, praise thee, bless thee, and glorify thee
for ever in heaven. I am content to die, to
expiate by my death and suffering, all the sins
which I have committed since I came into
the world.
I am ready and willing to he deprived of
every thing I have loved upon earth. I re-
nounce all the vanities of the world, and now
willingly bid farewell to this vale of tears
and miseries.
Heaven is my happier home. Paradise is
much more pleasant and agreeable, and death
is the path that leads to it.
O happy news of my departure! I hope I
shall soon hear the choirs of angels sing forth
the immortal praise of my God. To dwell
one day in his holy palace, in the company
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286 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
of the blessed, is better than to be a thousand
years in the tabernacle of sinners.
Let slow death then hasten on, that dying
I may he no longer exposed to the dangerous
occasions of sin, hut that I may see and enjoy
thee, my God, in paradise, and love thee eter-
nally in the regions of bliss and immortality.
O heavenly Jerusalem! O beautiful city of
God, my happy home ! when shall I arrive in
thy sacred tabernacles ?
Take courage, my soul. The hour approach-
eth. Eternity comes on. Thy miseries and
sorrows will soon have an end.
Thou art going to the nuptials of the Lamb.
Thou art going to the land of the living. Thou
art going to a kingdom where the God of all
glory displays his grandeur with the greatest
magnificence.
O welcome the approaching hour of death,
which is to remove thee to a better life, and to
translate thee from misery to felicity, from
death to immortality.
J esus Christ was crucified and died for thee.
Be ready then to die for him, that thou may-
est enjoy him in the kingdom of heaven, which
he has promised to those who put their trust
and confidence in him. [Here the assistants
may show a crucifix to the sick person .] Con-
template him expiring on the painful bed of
the cross, without any other pillow to support
his head but a crown of thorns. Behold his
mercifal arms extended to embrace thee. See
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 28T
his sacred side laid open to grant thee admittance
to his heart. See his blessed head laid down
to give the kiss of peace. See at how dear
a rate he has purchased thy salvation. See
what he suffered for thy sake. Embrace him
with the most tender affection, and with a firm
confidence that thou wilt soon see him in heaven,
whom thou now beholdest fastened on a cross.
Yes, my divine Redeemer, I embrace thee
with all the affections of my soul. I depend
on thy merits, and take shelter in thy bleeding
wounds. I trust thou wilt not suffer me to be
for ever miserable, for thou art infinitely good
and merciful. Since I have thy blood to plead
in my behalf, why should I fear ? why should I
tremble at the thoughts of death, when I
consider that thou hast satisfied for my sins,
paid my debts, and laid down thy life for my
salvation?
I am not afraid of hell, though I have
deserved it, because my dear Jesus has
purchased heaven for me.
I hope in his mercy ; and all the artifices of
the infernal spirits shall never induce me to
relinquish my hope.
In spite of them all, I will sing eternal
praises to thee, O blessed Trinity, Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost; I will adore thy
mercies, and will possess and love thee for ever.
I will now say what, perhaps, I shall not
be able to say at my dying moments : — “ O
Father of mercies, and God of all consolation.
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH*
into thy most merciful hands I commend my
soul, both for time and eternity.”
Now, instead of then, when perhaps I may
be deprived of the use of speech and reason, I
offer thee, O Lord, my heart, my life, my
agony, my pains, my anguish, my distress,
and my death, to be united to the bloody sweet
and agony of my dear Saviour Jesus Christ
Ndw, as well as at the time of my departure,
I renounce Satan, and declare my abhorrence
of whatever evil thoughts he shall then suggest
to me.
O God of my heart, my portion, and my
inheritance for ever ! I desire to love thee, as the
angels of heaven love thee. O how good hast
thou been to me, and how ungrateful have I
been to thee ! I grieve from the bottom of my
heart that I ever offended thee, who art infi-
nitely amiable. Forgive me, dear Jesus ! for-
give me, O Father of mercies. .
O my God and my all ! my soul doth thirst
after thee. When shall I come and appear
before thee, O thou fountain of mercy! O
who will deliver me from this body of death ! I
desire to he dissolved and tobe with Christ ; for
Christ is my life, and to die will he my gain.
How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord God
of Hosts ! I love the beauty of thy house, and
the place of thy glorious abode. “ The eye hath
not seen, the ear hath not heard, nor hath it
entered into the heart of man to conceive, what
things God hath prepared for those who love
him.”
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 289
What have I more to do with the world ?
And in heaven, what can I desire but thee only,
O Lord ? Now dost thou dismiss thy servant
in peace.
I am weary of this life. I willingly take
my leave of this world, and of all terrestrial
objects.
Nothing, O good Jesus ! nothing more shall
ever separate me from thee.
O holy Mary, mother of God, who didst
assist at the death of thy beloved son Jesus,
obtain for me the grace of a happy death.
Glorious St. Michael, prince of the heavenly
host, intercede for me at the hour of my death,
that I may depart this world in the grace
and favour of my Creator.
O holy Angel Guardian, to whose care God
in his mercy has committed me, stand by me
at that dreadful hour ; protect me against all
the powers of darkness : defend me from all
my enemies ; and conduct my soul to the man-
sions of eternal repose.
O all ye blessed angels and saints of God,
assist me by your intercession, in this last
and dreadful passage.
O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins
of the world, be thou then to me a powerful
redeemer and advocate with the Father.
Let those hands which were nailed to the
cross, plead in my behalf, and open to me
the gates of heaven.
Be thou a Jesus to ine, and save my soul
at that awful period. Hide me in thy wounds,
2 b
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290
PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
and protect me under the shadow of thy
wings.
O good Shepherd of souls ! do not forsake
me, but conduct my soul into eternal rest.
Suffer thy passion and death to stand be-
twix my soul and thy justice ; and let these
comfortable words sound then in my ears s
“ This day thou shalt he with me in para-
dise.”
O sweet Comforter of desolate and distressed
souls let me then experience the multitude of
thy tender mercies, when my soul shall be
in conflict with the pangs of death.
Be mindful of thy poor creature, whom thou
hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Remember thou hast bought my soul at a
dear rate. O let not thy precious blood he
lost on me, or spilt in vain.
0 let not my soul perish, which cost thee so
great a price.
Thou hast promised, that whosoever shall
invoke thy name with faith and confidence,
shall be saved : I invoke thy sacred name, O
Jesus, with my whole heart, and with all pos-
sible respect and devotion : do not then suffer
me to he lost for ever.
Help me, O God my Saviour ; and for the
glory of thy blessed name, deliver me. Look
with an eye of pity on this poor piece of clay,
and succour me in my distress.
1 beseech thee, by thy sufferings on the cross,
especially at that hour when thy blessed soul
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
291
left thy sacred body, to have mercy on my soul
at the time of its departure from mine.
Call me to thyself, and receive me into the
number of thine elect, that I may praise thee
without end.
O J esus. Son of the living God, have mercy
on me.
Give me thy blessing, O most loving Jesus.
Lord Jesus, receive my soul.
Receive me Lord Jesus, in thy mercy!
receive my soul in peace.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
Post hominem vermis ; post vermem fcetor et horror :
Sic in non hominem vertitur omnis homo.
A PRATER BY ST. LIGUORI.
Ah, my Redeemer, how have I been able
hitherto to live in such forgetfulness of you?
You were prepared to grant me all the graces
which I should ask of you ; you only waited
for me to ask them. But I have thought only
of indulging my senses, and have been indif-
ferent about the privation and loss of your love
and of your graces. Lord, forget ail my in-
gratitude, and have mercy on me. Pardon
me all the displeasure I have given you, and
grant me perseverance. O God of my soul,
give me the grace always to ask your aid not
to offend you. Do not permit me to be, as I
have hitherto been, negligent in the perform-
ance of this duty. Grant me light and strength
always to recommend myself to you, and par-
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29 2 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
ticularly when my enemies tempt me to offend
you again. Grant, O my God, this grace
through the merits of Jesus Christ, and through
the love which you bear to him. O Lord, I
have offended you enough. I wish to love you
during the remainder of my life. Give me
your love ; and may this love remind me to
ask your aid whenever I shall be in danger
of losing you by sin. Mary, my hope after
Jesus, through your intercession I hope for
the grace to recommend myself, in all my
temptations, to you and to your Son. Hear
me, O my queen, through the love which you
bear to Jesus Christ.
A DEVOUT PRAYER OP ST. AUOUSTINE ON THE
SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.
O God ! who for the redemption of the world
didst vouchsafe to be born — to be circumcised —
to be rejected by the Jews — to be betrayed with
a kiss — to be bound like a malefactor, and like
an innocent lamb to be led to the slaughter —
to be ignominiously brought before Annas,
Caiphas, Pilate, and Herod — to be accused by
false witnesses — scourged with whips — buffeted
— defiled with spittle — crowned with thorns —
stripped of thy clothes — fastened to the cross,
placed between two thieves — to have vinegar
and gall given thee to drink — to have thy
side pierced through with a spear! Thou,
O Lord, by these most grievous pains, which
I, though unworthy, do commemorate, and
by thy most sacred passion and death, free
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
293
me from the pains of hell, and conduct me
whither thy mercy did conduct the good thief
crucified with thee: who, together with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest
for ever.
A PRATER OF ST. JEROME IN TIME OF AGONY.
Merciful Jesus, thou art my strength, my
refuge, and my deliverer ; in thee I have be-
lieved and hoped ; in thee have I loved. Call
me now, I beseech thee, and I will answer. —
Stretch forth thy hand of mercy to the work of
thy hands, and let me not perish, whom thou
hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
It is now time for dust to return to dust, and
my spirit to thee who gavest it. Open then.
Lord, the gate of life, and receive me ; receive
me most merciful Lord, according to the mul-
titude of thy tender mercies, who receivedst the
thief on the cross, and now prepare my soul
for hearing the same promise of mercy which
he did. I am sick, O Lord, and my life is
withering away ; therefore I come to thee my
physician. Heal me then, my God, and I shall
he healed : let me not be confounded ; because
I put my trust in thee. In thee have I hoped ;
let me not he cast off for ever.
But what am I, most merciful Lord, that I
should speak thus boldly to thee ? — 1 am a sin-
ner, grown up in sin, a rotten carcass, a vessel
of corruption, and food for worms. But spare
me still, my God ; for what victory is there in
overthrowing me, who am hut as dust before
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
the wind P Forgive me all my sins, and deliver
me from my distress.
Arise and help me, Lord ; arise and let thy
mercy plead for me. Let my prayer ascend be-
fore thee, and stretch forth thy hand to help me ;
for behold I am covered with sin, and have
done evil in thy sight, and there is none can
heal me but thou, my God. If thou hadst not
paid my ransom, by dying on the cross, should
not I have been for ever miserable ? Remem-
ber then, 0 merciful Jesus, that I have a share
in that price that was paid. It was for me also,
though most unworthy, thy blood was shed;
let me, therefore, have a part in this mercy.
I confess I have many times offended against
thee, and therefore am not worthy to be called
thy child ; but turn away thy face, I beseech
thee, from my sins, and blot out all my iniqui-
ties. Deal not with me acccording to what I
deserve, nor chastise me according to my
iniquities ; but help me, O God, my Saviour,
and for the glory of thy name deliver me.
Now at this hour show mercy to me, and when-
ever I depart receive me into the number of
thy family, that I may be one of those who
are to praise thee for ever.
PRAYERS TO BE RECITED BY THE ASSISTANTS WHEN THE
DYING PERSON LOSES THE USB OF SPEECH.
Lord J esus Christ, we beseech thee, by thy
bitter agony and prayer in the garden, that
thou wouldst be pleased to be an advocate with
PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 295
thy eternal Father, in behalf of this thy servant:
lay before him (her) all those drops of blood
which in thy anguish of spirit flowed from thy
body, and offer them for the remission of all his
(her) sins : that in this hour of extremity, he
(8 he) may he discharged from that hand-writing
of sin winch stands against him (her), and from
that punishment which he (she) fears to he too
justly due to his (her) sins. “ Our Father,” c&c.
“ Hail Mary,” &c.
Lord Jesus Christ ! who for our salvation
was pleased to suffer death on the cross, we
beseech thee to offer up all the anguish and
pains thou didst then endure, and most especially
at the hour of thy death, in behalf of this thy
servant, that they may be accepted in his (her)
favour, for the good of his (her) soul, for the
obtaining of a happy hour, and for the release
from that punishment which he (she) has
deserved for his (her) sins. “ Our Father,” &c.
“ Hail Mary,” &c.
Lord Jesus Christ! who hadst such a bound-
less love for man as to induce thee to become
man for his salvation, we beseech thee to let
this thy infinite charity and goodness towards
mankind, so plead in behalf of this thy poor
servant, that by thy powerful mediation, his
(her) soul, at the moment of its departure from
the body, being freed from the bonds of sin,
may find a free admittance through the gates
that lead to the mansions of eternal bliss. “ Our
Father,” &c. “ Hail Mary,” &c.
Lord Jesus Christ! who by thy precious
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296 PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
blood bast redeemed us, we beseech thee to
imprint deep in the soul of this thy servant the
memory of thy most sacred wounds, that having
them perpetually in his (her) sight, he (she)
may be encouraged to suffer ’frith patience and
resolution, and be armed against all the pangs
of death. Thus let him (her) cheerfully submit
to all the difficulties of his (her) condition,
and begin, even here, to be united to thee with
a love that shall never end.
Grant him (her) now to partake of the fruit
of thy holy incarnation, of thy bitter passion,
of thy glorious resurrection, and admirable
ascension.
Grant that he (she) may be sensible of the
effects of thy holy mysteries and sacraments,
and of all the prayers which are offered by the
whole church.
Remember, O Lord, that thou wast once in
the straits of death ; and in this extremity, after
crying out to thy eternal Father, and com-
mending thy spirit to him, didst expire. Behold
now this thy servant in his (her) anguish crying
aloud to thee ; stand thou by him (her), defend
and comfort him (her) in this his (her) distress,
and receive his (her) soul into thy merciful
embraces.
Remember, O Jesus, that thy arms were
stretched forth, thy side opened, and thy sacred
head bowed down from the cross ; have regard
now, we beseech thee, to the soul of this thy
servant, which, departing out of this world,
seeks refuge in thee ; receive it into thy arms.
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PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 29T
clasp it to thy breast, and there let it hide itself,
secured from the attacks of all its enemies, till
the anger of God pass over. Into thy hands
we commend his {her) spirit, which has been
created and redeemed by thee, despise not, we
beseech thee, the work of thy hands.
O Christ Jesus, who was crucified for our
redemption, we beseech thee, by that love
which brought thee from heaven, to have com-
passion on the soul of thy servant ; forgive him
{her) all his {her) sins, and by the merits of
thy bitter passion, satisfy for all his {her)
failings, and supply his {her) defects ; let him
{her) now experience the multitude of thy
tender mercies, and be sensible how good thou,
O Lord, art. Dispose now his {her) soul by
thy grace, that he {she) may be prepared at
thy call to go forth to meet thee, his {her)
heavenly bridegroom. Grant him {her), we
beseech thee, true patience and perfect resigna-
tion in his {her) pains and anguish. Give him
{her) full discharge from all his {her) sins ;
confirm his {her^ faith ; strengthen his {her)
hope, and perfect his {her) charity; that de-
parting hence, his {her) soul may be received
into thy mercy. O dear Redeemer, by that
distress which thou didst suffer on the cross,
when thou eriedst out to thy eternal Father,
we pray thee to show mercy to this thy ser-
vant in his {her) extremity ; hear the sighs and
desires of his {her) heart ; and since he {she)
is now deprived of the faculty of speech, speak
thou for him {her), we beseech thee, who
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298
RECOMMENDATION OF
art the eternal Word, and to whom the Father
will refuse nothing.
By thy victory over death, and the infinite
merits of thy passion, we beseech thee, oh
behalf of this thy servant, to have no other
thoughts hut of peace, of mercy and comfort,1
and not of affliction. Bear him ( [her ) up
against all distrust and despair; deliver him
(her) from his (her) necessities, and he his
(her) comforter in his (her) distress. Let those
hands which were once nailed to the cross,
now plead for him (herj and obtaining his
(her) pardon, conduct him (her) into thy
eternal rest. Amen.
THE RECOMMENDATION OF A SOUL
DEPARTING.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have
on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
All ye Angels and Archangels,
Holy Abel,
All the choir of the Just,
Holy Abraham,
St. John Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All ye Patriarchs and Prophets,
St. Peter and St Paul,
St. Andrew,
St. John,
All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists,
All ye holy disciples of our Lord,
mercy
J
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A SOUL DEPARTING.
299
All ye holy Innocents,
St. Stephen,
All ye holy Martyrs,
St Sylvester,
St. Gregory,
St. Augustine,
St. Laurence,
All ye holy Bishops and Confessors,
St. Benedict,
St Francis,
All ye holy Monks and Hermits,
St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Lucy,
All ye holy Virgins and Widows,
All ye saints of God, make intercession for
(her).
Be merciful, spare him (her,) O Lord.
Be merciful, deliver him (her,) O Lord.
Be merciful, receive him (her,) O Lord.
From thy anger,
From the danger of death,
From an ill end.
From the pains of hell,
From all evil.
From the power of the devil,
Through thy nativity,
Through thy cross and passion,
Through thy death and burial.
Through thy glorious resurrection.
Through thy admirable ascension.
Through the grace of the Holy Ghost, the
comforter,
In the day of judgment.
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Pi ay for him (her.) .§ Deliver him (her,) O Lord.
300
RECOMMENDATION OF
We sinners, beseech thee to hear us.
That thou spare him (her), we beseech thee to
hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy
on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
LET US PRAY.
Depart then, O Christian soul, out of this
miserable world, in the name of God the Father
Almighty, who created thee; in the name of
Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who
suffered for thee; in the name of the Holy
Ghost, who sanctified thee ; in the name of
the angels, archangels, thrones, dominations,
cherubim, and seraphim ; in the name of the
patriarchs and prophets, of the holy apostles,
and evangelists, of the holy martyrs and con-
fessors, of the holy monks and hermits, of the
holy virgins, and of all the saints of God : let
thy place be this day in peace, and thy abode
in holy Sion : through Christ our Lord. Amen.
God of clemency ! God of goodness ! O God,
who according to the multitude of thy mercies,
forgivest the sins of such as repent, and gra-
ciously remittest the guilt of their past offences,
mercifully regard this thy servant (N.) and grant
him (her) a full discharge from all his (her)
sins, who most earnestly begs it of thee. Renew,
O merciful Father, whatever is corrupt in him
(her) through human frailty, or by the snares
of the enemy ; make him (her) a true member
of thy church, and let him (her) partake of the
fruit of thy redemption. Have compassion, O
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A SOUL DEPARTING.
301
Lord, on his (her) sighs, have pity on his (her)
tears, and admit him (her) to the sacrament of
thy reconciliation, who has no hope but in
thee : through Christ our Lord. Amen.
I recommend thee, dear brother (sister,) to
Almighty God, and commit thee to his mercy,
whose creature thou art ; that having paid the
common debt, by surrendering thy soul, thou
mayest return to thy Maker, who formed thee
out of the earth. May, therefore, the noble
company of angels meet thy soul at its depar-
ture. May the court of the apostles receive
thee. May the triumphant army of glorious
martyrs conduct thee. May the crowds of
joyful confessors encompass thee. May the
choir of blessed virgins go before thee ; and
may a happy rest he thy portion in the com-
pany of the patriarchs. May Jesus Christ
appear to thee with a mild and cheerful coun-
tenance, and give thee a place among those
who are to he in his presence for ever. Mayest
thou be a stranger to all who are condemned
to darkness, chastised with flames, or punished
with torments. May God command thy wicked
enemy, with all his evil spirits, to depart from
thee. May the infernal spirits tremble at thy
approach encompassed by angels, and retire
into the horrid confusion of eternal night. May
thy God arise, and thy enemies be put to flight.
May all who hate him fly before his face.
Let them vanish like smoke, or as wax before
the fire ; so let sinners perish in the sight of
God. But as to the just, let them rejoice and
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302
RECOMMENDATION OF
be happy in his presence. May all the minis-
ters of hell be filled with confusion and shame,
and let no evil spirit dare to stop thy course to
heaven. May Christ Jesus, who was crucified
for thee, be thy deliverer. May he deliver
thee from death, who for thy sake vouchsafed
to die. May Christ Jesus, the Son of the living
God, place thee in his garden of Paradise ;
and may he, the true shepherd, own thee for
one of his flock. May he absolve thee from
all thy sins, and place thee at his right
hand in the inheritance of his elect. O may
it be thy happy lot to behold thy Redeemer
face to face; to be ever in his presence,
in the beatific vision of that eternal truth,
which is the joy of the blessed. And thus
placed among those happy spirits, mayest
thou be for ever filled with heavenly sweet-
ness. Amen.
Receive thy servant, O Lord, into that place
where he (she) may hope for salvation from
thy mercy. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant from
all dangers of hell, and from all pain and
tribulation. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as
thou deliveredst Enoch and Elias from the com-
mon death of the world. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy savant,
as thou deliveredst Noah in the flood. —
R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
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A SOUL DEPARTING. 303
as thou deliveredst Abraham from the midst
of the Chaldeans. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
as thou deliveredst Job from all his afflictions. —
R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
as thou deliveredst Isaac from being sacrificed
by his father. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
as thou deliveredst Lot from Sodom and the
the flames of fire. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
as thou deliveredst Moses from the hands of
Pharaoh, king of Egypt. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
as thou deliveredst Daniel from the lions’
den. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
as thou deliveredst the three children from
the fiery furnace, and from the hands of that
unmerciful king. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
as thou deliveredst Susannah from her false
accusers. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
as thou deliveredst David from the hands of
Saul and Goliah. — R. Amen.
Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant,
as thou deliveredst Peter and Paul out of
prison. — R. Amen.
And as thou deliveredst the blessed virgin
and martyr, St. Thecla, from most cruel
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304 RECOMMENDATION OF, ETC.
torments, vouchsafe to deliver the soul of this
thy servant, and bring it to the participation
of thy heavenly joys. — R. Amen.
LET US PRAY.
We commend to thee, O Lord, the soul
of this thy servant ; and beseech thee, O
Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the world, that as
in thy mercy to him (her) thou becamest
man, so now thou mayest vouchsafe to admit
him (her) into the number of the blessed.
Remember, O Lord, that he (she) is thy
creature, not made by strange gods, hut by
thee, the only true and living God ; for there
is no other God hut thee, and none can work
thy wonders. Let his (her) soul find comfort
in thy sight, and remember not his (her)
former sins, nor any of those excesses which
he (she) has fallen into through the violence
of passion and corruption. For although he
(she) hath sinned, yet he (she) has still re-
tained a true faith in thee, Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost ; he (she) has had a zeal for
thy honour, and faithfully adores thee his
(her) God and Creator of all things.
Remember not, O Lord, the sins or ignorance
of his (her) youth ; hut according to thy great
mercy be mindful of him (her) in thy eternal
glory. Let the heavens he opened to him
(her,) and the angels rejoice with him (her).
May St. Michael the archangel, the chief of
the heavenly host, conduct him (her). May
blessed Peter, thy apostle, to whom were
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LITANY FOB A HAPPY DEATH. 305
given the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
receive him (her.) May holy Paul thy apostle,
and chosen vessel of election, assist him (her.)
May St. John, thy beloved disciple, to whom
were revealed the secrets of heaven, intercede
for him (her.) May all thy holy apostles,
to whom was given the power of binding
and loosening, pray for him (her.) May all
the chosen servants and martyrs of God, who
in this world have suffered torments for thy
sake, O Christ, intercede for him (her,) that
being delivered from this body of corruption,
he (she) may he admitted into the kingdom
of heaven ; through the assistance and merits
of thee, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth
and reigneth with the Father and the Holy
Ghost, world without end. Amen.
[Should the sick person still continue in distress of agony,
it may be proper for the assistants to continue on in prayer,
saying Psalms xxi. cxviii.]
LITANY FOR A HAPPY DEATH ;
Composed by a young Lady who was converted to the
Catholic Faith , ana afterwards died at eighteen , in the
odour of sanctity.
O Lord Jesus, God of goodness, and Father
of mercies, I approach to thee with a con-
trite and humble heart : to thee I recommend
the last hour of my life, and the decision of
my eternal doom.
2 c 2
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306 LITANY FOR A HAPPY DEATH.
When my feet, benumbed with death,
shall admonish me that my mortal course
is drawing to an end,
When my eyes, dim and troubled at
the approach of death, shall fix them-
selves on thee, my last and only support.
When my face, pale and livid, shall
inspire the beholders with pity and dis-
may; when my hair, bathed in the sweat
of death, and stiffening on my head, shall
forebode my approaching end.
When my ears, soon to be for ever
shut to the discourse of men, shall he
opened to the irrevocable decree which
is to cut me off from the number of
the living.
When my imagination, agitated by
dreadful spectres, shall be sunk in an
abyss of anguish; when my soul, af-
frighted with the sight of my iniquities,
and the terrors of thy judgments, shall
have to fight against the angel of dark-
ness, who will endeavour to conceal
thy mercies from my eyes, and to plunge
me into despair,
When my poor heart, yielding to the
pressure, and exhausted by its frequent
struggles against the enemies of its sal-
vation, shall feel the pangs of death.
When the last tear, the forerunner of
my dissolution, shall drop from my eyes,
receive it as a sacrifice of expiation for
my sins; grant that I may expire the w
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Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.
LITANY FOR A HAPPY DEATH. 307
victim of penance; and in that dreadful '
moment,
When my friends and relations, en-
circling my bed, shall shed the tear of
pity over me, and invoke thy clemency
in my behalf,
When I shall have lost the use of my
senses ; when the world shall have vanished
from my sight ; when my agonizing soul
shall feel the sorrows of death.
When my last sigh shall summon my
soul to hurst from the embraces of the
body, and to spring to thee on the wings
of impatience and desire.
When my soul, trembling on my lips,
shall bid adieu to the world, and leave
my body lifeless, pale, and cold, receive
this separation as a homage which I
willingly pay to thy divine Majesty;
and in that last moment of my mortal
life,
When at length my soul, admitted
to thy presence, shall first behold the
splendour of thy Majesty, reject me not,
but receive me into thy bosom, where
I may for ever sing thy praises ; and
in that moment, when eternity shall
begin to me,
LET US PRAY.
O God, who hast doomed all men to die,
hut hast concealed from all the hour of their
death, grant that I may pass my days in
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Merciful Jems, have mercy on me.
308 PBAYERS FOR THE SOUL DEPARTED.
the practice of holiness and justice, and that
I may deserve to quit this world in the peace of
a good conscience, and in the embraces of thy
love : through Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE SOUL BEING NOW DEPATED, THE FOLLOWING
RESPONSORY IS SAID :
Come to his ( [her ) assistance, all you saints
of God ; meet him {her) all you angels of
God ; receive his ( her ) soul, and present it
now before its Lord. May Jesus Christ re-
ceive thee, and the angels conduct thee to
thy place of rest ; may they receive thy soul,
and present it now before its Lord.
Y. Eternal rest grant him ( her ,) O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine unto him
{her.)
May the angels present him {her) now
before the Lord.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have
mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, &c.
V. And lead us not into temptation ;
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. Eternal rest grant him {her,) O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine unto him,
{her.)
Y . From the gates of hell ;
R. Deliver his {her) soul, O Lord.
V. May he {she) rest in peace ;
R. Amen.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer;
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
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PRAYERS FOR THE SOUL DEPARTED. 309
LET US PRAY.
Unto thee, Lord, we commend the soul of
thy servant {N.) that being dead to this world,
he {she) may live to thee ; and whatever sins
he (she) has committed through human frailty,
we beseech thee, in thy goodness, mercifully
to pardon : through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[Then, for a conclusion, may be added the following
prayer for the assistants, which may be also said at the
Dunal.]
Grant, O Lord, that while we here lament
the departure of thy servant, we may ever
remember that we are most certainly to follow
him {her). Give us grace to prepare for that
last hour by a good life, that we may not be
surprised by a sudden death, but be ever watch-
ing when thou shalt call, that so with the
spouse we may enter into eternal glory : through
J esus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR ALL THAT ARE BURIED IN A CHURCH OR
CHURCH-YARD.
O God, by whose mercy the souls of all the
faithful find rest, grant to all thy servants, here
or elsewhere, that have slept in Christ, the full
remission of all their sins ; that being acquitted
as well from the guilt as the temporal punish-
ment due to them, they may be speedily ad-
mitted into thy heavenly kingdom, and there
rejoice with thee for all eternity : through, &c.
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310
PRAYEBS AT THE TOMB.
EXEQUIES, OR SACRED RITES OYER
THE TOMB.
[Solemnity performed after High Mass for the Dead, and
which may he privately recited after the Office.]
RESPONSORY.
Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna, in
die ilia tremenda : *Quando coeli movendi sunt,
et tena : *Dum veneris judicare saeculum per
ignem.
Y. Tremens factus sum ego, et timeo dum
discussio venerit, atque ventura ira.
R. Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra.
Y. Dies ilia, dies irae, calamitatis, et miseriee :
dies magna, et amara valde.
R. Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem.
Requiem aetemam dona eis, Domine, et lux
perpetua luceat eis.
R. Libera me, Domine, de morte aetema,
in die ilia tremenda, quando coeli movendi
sunt et terra, dum veneris judicare saeculum
per ignem.
Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison. Kyrie,
eleison.
Pater noster, \secreto.]
y. Et nos inducas in tentationem.
R. Sed libera nos a malo.
V. A porta inferi.
R. Erue, Domine, animam ejus [animas eo-
rum.]
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PRAYERS AT THE TOMB.
311
EXEQUIES, OR SACRED RITES OYER
THE TOMB.
[Solemnity performed after High Mass for the Dead, and
which may be privately recited after the Office.]
RESPONSORY.
Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death
on that dreadful day: *When the heavens
and earth shall he moved : * Whilst thou wilt
come to judge the world by fire.
Y. I am seized with trembling and dread,
when I reflect on the rigorous examination,
and the vengeful wrath of that day.
R.When the heavens and earth shall be moved.
Y.That day shall be a day of wrath, cala-
mity, and misery: the great day of extreme
bitterness and terror.
R. Whilst thou wilt come to judge the
world by fire.
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and may
the perpetual light of glory shine upon them.
R. Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death
on that dreadful day, when the heavens and
earth shall be moved, whilst thou wilt come
to judge the world by fire.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have
mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, [in silence,]
Y. And lead us not into temptation.
R. Bnt deliver us from evil.
y . From the gates of hell.
R. Deliver his soul, [their souls,] O Lord.
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312 PRAYERS AT THE TOMB.
V. Requiescat (requiescant) in pace.
R. Amen.
V. Domine, exaudi, orationem meam.
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
OREMUS.
PRATER ON THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL 80CLS.
Fidelium, Deus, omnium conditor et re-
demptor, animabus famulorum famularumque
tuarum remissionem cunctorum tribue pecca-
torum : ut indulgentiam quam semper optave-
runt, piis supplicationibus consequantur. Qui
vivis et regnas cum Deo Fatre in imitate
Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula
saeculorum. Amen.
SUFFRAGES FOR THE SOULS OF THE FAITHFUL
DEPARTED IN GENERAL.
PSALMUS cxxix.
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine : * Do-
mine, exaudi vocem meum.
Fiant aures tuse intendentes *in vocem de-
precationis meae.
Si iniquitatis observaveris, Domine : Domine,
quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est: et propter
legem tuam sustinui te, Domine.
Sustinuat anima mea in verbo ejus : *spera-
vit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem, * spe-
ret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia : et copiosa
apud eum redemptio.
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PRAYERS AT THE TOMB. 313
V. May he (they) rest in peace.
R. Amen.
Y. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
LET US PRAY.
PRATER ON THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL SOULS.
O God, the creator and redeemer of all the
faithful, give to the souls of thy servants de-
parted, the full remission of all their sins ;
that, through the help of pious supplications,
they may obtain the pardon they have always
desired. Who livest and reignest, with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
SUFFRAGES FOR THE SOULS OF THE FAITHFUL
DEPARTED IN GENERAL.
PSALM cxxix.
From the depths I have cried out to thee,
*0 Lord: Lord, hear my voice.
Let thy ears be attentive *to the voice of my
petition.
If thou wilt consider our iniquities, O mighty
Lord, *who shall endure it?
But with thee there is merciM forgiveness : *
and by reason of thy law I have waited for
thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on his word: *my soul
hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch, even until night, *
let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy: *
and with him, plentiful redemption.
n . 2d
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314 PRAYERS AT THE TOMB.
Et ipse redimet Israel *ex omnibus iniqui-
tatibus ejus.
Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison. Kyrie,
eleison.
Pater noster, (secreto,)
Y. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem,
R. Sed libera nos a malo.
Y. Requiem seternam dona eis, Domine;
R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
V. A porta inferi,
R. Erue, Domine, animas eorum.
V. Requiescant in pace.
R. Amen.
y. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
i OREMUS.
Fidelium, Deus, omnium conditor et re-
demptor, animabus famulorum famularumque
tuarum remissionem cunctorum tribue pecca-*
torum ; ut indulgentiam quam semper optave-
runt, piis supplicationibus consequantur. Qui
vivis et regnas in saecula seeculorum. Amen.
y. Requiem eetemam dona eis, Domine.
R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
V. Requiescant in pace.
R. Amen.
y. Anima ejus (animee eorum) et animae
omnium fidelium defunc torum, per misericor-
diam Dei, requiescant in pace.
R. Amen.
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PRAYERS AT THE TOMB. 315
And he shall redeem Israel * from all his
iniquities.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy
on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, (in silence .)
Y. And lead us not into temptation,
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord ;
R. And may the perpetual light of glory
shine upon them.
V. From the gates of hell,
R. Deliver their souls, O Lord.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
y. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come to thee.
LET US PRAY.
O God, the creator and redeemer of all the
faithful, give to the souls of thy servants de-
parted, the full remission of all their sins :
that through the help of pious supplications,
they may obtain the pardon they have always
desired. Who livest and reignest world without
end. Amen.
y. Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord.
R. And may the perpetual light of glory
shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. May his soul (their souls), and may the
souls of all the faithful departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
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LITANY FOR THE DEAD.
“ It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they
may be loosed from their sms.”— 2 MAC. xiL 46.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have
mercy on us. Lord, have mercy us.
Jesus, receive our prayers. Lord Jesus,
grant our petitions.
O God the Father, Creator of the world.
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful de-
parted.
O God the Son, Redeemer of mankind.
Deliver the souls of the faithful departed.
O God the Holy Ghost, perfecter of the elect,
Accomplish the bliss of the faithful departed.
Blessed Virgin Mary, who, by the special
privilege of grace, was triumphantly assumed
into the kingdom of thy Son, Pray for the souls
of the faithful departed.
Blessed angels, who, ordering aright the first
act of your will, were fixed forthwith in un-
changeable happiness, Pray9 <f-c.
Blessed patriarchs, who were filled with joy
when the Desired of Nations put an end to
your captivity, Dray , tyc.
Blessed prophets, who after patiently await-
ing the arrival of the Messiah, were at length
consoled by a visit from him fn person. Pray ,
<J*c.
Blessed saints, who at the glorious resurrec-
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LITANY FOR THE DEAD. 31t
tion of our Saviour, were translated from
Limbo to the visible presence of God, Pray, <f*c.
Blessed apostles, who at the last day
shall sit to judge the twelve tribes .of Israel,
Pray, 6fc.
Blessed disciples of our Lord, who followed
his steps in the narrow paths to perfection,
Pray,
Blessed martyrs, who passed through the sea
of your own blood, entering immediately into
the land of promise, Pray , <f*c.
Blessed confessors, who despised the vanity
of the earth, and placed your affections on the
joys of heaven, Pray,
Blessed virgins, who, with your lighted
lamps, awaited the coming of the heavenly
spouse, Pray, tyc.
O holy saints, who, being freed from all
irregular attachment to creatures, were per-
fectly fitted for an immediate union with your
Creator, Pray, fyc.
Be merciful, O Lord, and pardon their sins.
Be merciful, O Lord, and hear their prayers.
From the shades of death, where the light of
thy countenance shineth not, Deliver them,
O Lord .
From the evils to which immortification in
this world must expose them in the other,
Deliver , <f*c.
From thy displeasure, provoked by negli-
gence and ingratitude, Deliver, tyc.
From the pains of purgatory, so justly in*
flicted upon unexpiated sins, Deliver, $c.
2 D 2
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318 LITANY FOB THE DEAD.
From the torments of purgatory, incompa-
rably greater than the bitterest anguish of this
life, Deliver , tyc.
By the multitude of thy mercies, ever com-
passionate to human frailties, Delivery fyc.
By the virtue of thy cross, whereon thou
reconciledst the world to thy Father, Deliver .
By thy victorious descent into hell, to break
the chains of death, Delivery
By thy glorious resurrection from the tomb,
to open the kingdom of heaven. Delivery
By thy triumphant ascension into heaven, to
lead captivity captive, Delivery 4fC.
By thy dread coming to judge the world,
Delivery 4"c.
We sinners, Beseech thee to hear us.
That it please thee to hasten the day when
thy faithful shall he delivered from the mansions
of sorrow. We beseech , <J*c.
That it please thee to shorten the time of
their expiation, and to admit them speedily into
thy heavenly sanctuary, We beseech , fyc.
That it please thee through the prayers and
good works performed in thy church, to receive
them into thy eternal tabernacles, We beseechy
4rc.
That it please thee to accept, in atonement
for their sins, the infinite value of thy unbloody
sacrifice, We beseechy <J*c.
That the blessed view of Jesus may comfort
them, and his unfading glory shine upon them,
We beseechy <f-c.
That the whole triumphant church may soon
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LITANT FOR THE DEAD.
319
celebrate their deliverance and the choir of
angels sing new hymns of joy, on their never-
ending happiness, We beseech , <f*c.
That we ourselves may share in their tri-
umph, and unite with all the citizens of heaven
in eternal alleluias, We beseech , <f*c.
Son of God, We beseech , fyc.
Lamb of God, who shalt come with glory
to judge the living and the dead. Give rest
to the souls of the faithful departed .
Lamb of God, at whose presence the heavens
and the earth shall he moved. Give rest
to the souls of the faithful departed .
Lamb of God, in whose hook of life the
names of thy elect are inscribed, Give re8t
to the souls of the faithful departed .
THE ANTIPHON.
Deliver us, O Lord, from eternal death,
in that tremendous day, when the heavens and
the earth shall he moved; whilst thou shalt
come to judge the world by fire. We tremble
and are sore afraid at the discussion which
will take place, and at thy future wrath;
when the heavens and the earth shall be
moved ; when thou shalt come to judge the
world by fire.
That day is a day of wrath, of calamity,
and of misery ; a great and a most bitter day ;
when thou shalt come to judge the world by
fire.
Give them, O Lord, eternal rest, and let
perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.
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320 LITANY FOR THE DEAD.
LET US PRAY.
O God, the creator and redeemer of all
the faithful, grant to the souls of thy servants
departed, the remission of all their sins, that
by means of pious supplications, they may
obtain the pardon which they have ever
earnestly desired: who livest and reignest,
&c. Amen.
A PRAYER UPON THE DAY OF A PERSON’S DECEASE OR
BURIAL.
O Lord, we commend unto thy infinite
clemency, the souls of thy servants lately de-
ceased : pardon them, we beseech thee, in the
multitude of thy mercies, the sins which they
have committed through human frailty, and
grant them eternal life in thy kingdom of
bliss. Amen.
ANOTHER PRAYER.
O God, whose property it is always to have
mercy, and to spare, we humbly present our
prayers to thee in behalf of the soul of thy
servant N. which thou hast called out of this
ijorld, beseeching thee not to deliver into the
hands of the enemy, nor forget it for ever ;
but command it to be received by the holy
angels, and to be carried into paradise ; that
as it believed and hoped in thee, it may be
delivered from the pains of hell, and inherit life
everlasting ; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS.
Our Father. Hail Mary. (In tilence.)
*
V. Deus. in adjutorium
meum intende.
R. Domine, ad adjuvan-
dum me festina.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et
Spiritui Sancto.
Si cut erat in principio, et
nunc, et semper, et in ssecu-
la sseculorum. Amen. Al-
leluia.
v . O God, come to my
assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste
to help me.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost.
As it was in the begin-
ning, is now. and ever shall
be, world witnout end. Amen.
AUeluiah.
From Saturday before Septuaffeaaima Sunday, till Saturday in Holy
Week, instead of Alleluia , is said,
Laus tibi, Domine, Rex Praise be to thee, O Lord,
eteraiB glories. King of eternal glory.
N. B.— -In Paschal time all the Psalms are said under this only.
Anthem. Alleluia.
Ant . Dixit Dominus. Ant. The Lord said.
Ant . Alleluia. Ant. Alleluiah.
PSALM CIX.
Christ1 s Exaltation and everlasting Priesthood.
Dixit Dominus Domino
meo : * sede a dextris meis.
Donee ponam inimicos
tuos: * scabellum pedum
tuorum.
Virgam virtutis turn emit-
tet Dominus ex Sion : • Do-
minare in medio inimicorum
tuorum.
Tecum principium in die
virtutis tu®, in splendoribus
The Lord said unto my
Lord, sit on my right hand.
Until I make thy enemies
the footstool of thy feet.
The Lord will send the
sceptre of thy power out of
Sion : rule thou in the midst
of thy enemies.
Dominion shall be with
thee in the day of thy power
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3 22
VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS.
sanctorum: *ex ufcero ante
luciferum genui te.
Juravit Dominus. et non
poenitebit eum : • Tu es sa-
cerdos in setemam secundum
ordinem Melchisedech.
Dominus a dextris tuis:
•confregit in die ir« suse
reges.
Judicabit in nationibus,
implebit ruinas: * conquas-
sabit capita in terra multo-
rum.
De torrente in via bibet :
•propterea exaltabit caput.
Gloria Patri, &c.
Ant . Dixit Dominus.
Ant . Fidelia.
in the brightness of the
saints : from the womb before
the da y star I begat thee.
The Lord swore, and it
shall not repent him : Thou
art a priest for ever, accord-
ing to the order of Melchi-
sedech.
The Lord at thy right
hand hath broken kings in
the day of his wrath.
He shall judge among na-
tions, he shall nil ruins : he
shall crush the heads in the
land of many.
He shall drink of the tor-
rent in the way; therefore
shall he lift up the head.
Glory be to the Father,
&c.
Ant . The Lord said unto
my Lord: sit thou on my
right.
Ant. All his command-
ments.
PSALM. CX.
God is to be praised for his graces and benefits to his
Church.
Confitebor tibi, Domi-
ne, in toto corde meo: *in
concilio jus to rum, et con-
gregations.
Magna opera Domini :
•exquisita in omnes volun-
taries ejus.
Confessio etmagnificentia
opus ejus : • et justitia ejus
manet in sseculum sseculi.
Memoriam fecit mirabi-
lium suorum, misericors et
I will praise thee, O
Lord, with my whole heart :
in the council of the just,
and in the congregation.
Great are the works of the
Lord: sought out according
to all his wills.
His work is praise and
magnificence: and his jus-
tice continueth for ever and
ever.
He hath made a remem-
brance of his wonderful
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VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS.
323
miserator Dominus : • escam
dedit timentibus se.
Memor exit in sseculum
testamenti sui ; * virtu tem
operum suorum annuntiabit
populo 8UO.
Ut det illis hsereditatem
gentium: * opera manuum
ejus veritas et judicium.
Fidelia omnia mandata
ejus, confirmata in sseculum
sseculi : * facta in veritate et
equitate.
Redemptionem misit pop*
ulo suo : * mandavit in seter-
num testamentum suum.
Sanctum et terribile no-
men ejus: * initium sapien-
tise timor Domini.
Intellectus bonus omnibus
facientibus eum * laudatio
ejus manet in sseculum sse-
culi.
Gloria Patri, &c.
Ant. Fidelia.
Ant . In mandatis.
works, being a merciful and
gracious Lord : he hath
ven food to them that fear
m.
He will be mindful for
ever of his covenant : he will
shew forth to his people the
power of his worlw.
That he may give them
the inheritance of the Gen-
tiles : the works of his hands
are truth and judgment.
A 11 his commandments are
faithful: confirmed for ever
and ever, made in truth and
equity.
He hath sent redemption
to his people : he hath com-
manded his covenant for ever.
Holy smd terrible is his
name : the fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom.
A good understanding to
all that do it : his praise con-
tinued for ever and ever.
Glory, &c.
Ant. All his command-
ments are faithful : confirm-
ed for ever and ever.
Ant. In his command-
ments.
PSALM CXI.
The good man is happy.
Beattjs vir, qui timet
Dominum : * in mandatis
ejus volet nimis.
Potens in terra erit semen
ejus : • generatio rectorum
benedicetur.
Blessed is the man that
feareth the Lord: he shall
delight exceedingly in his
commandments.
His seed shall be mighty
upon earth : the generations
of the righteous shall be
blessed.
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3 24
VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS.
Gloria et divitise in domo
ejus: * et justitia ejus manet
in smculum sseculi.
Exortum est in tenebris
lumen rectis : • raisericors,
et miserator et justus.
Jucundus homo qui mise-
retur et commodat: disponet
sermones suos in judicio:
•quia in sternum non com-
movebitur.
In memoria sterna erit
justus : • ab auditione mala
non timebit.
Paratum cor ejus sperare
in Domino, confirmatum est
eor ejus : • non commovebi-
tur, donee despiciat inimicos
suos.
Dispersit, dedit pauperi-
bus: justitia ejus manet in
ssculum ssculi : •cornu ejus
exaltabitur in gloria.
Peccator videbit et irasce-
tur, dentibus suis fremet, et
tabescet: •desiderium pec-
eatorum peribit.
Gloria Patri, &c.
Ant, In madatis ejus cu-
pit nimi8.
Ant. Sit nomen Domini.
Glory and wealth shall be
in his house; and his justice
remaineth for ever ana ever.
To the righteous a light
is risen up in darkness ; he
is merciful, and compassion-
ate and just.
Acceptable is the man that
showeth mercy and lendeth ;
he shall order his words with
judgment; because he shall
not be moved for ever.
The just shall be in ever-
lasting remembrance : he
shall not fear the evil hearing.
His heart is ready to hope
in the Lord: his heart is
strengthened, he shall not
be moved, until he look over
his enemies.
He hath distributed, he
hath given to the poor : his
justice remaineth for ever
and ever, his horn shall be
exalted in glory.
The wicked shall see and
shall be angry, he shall
gnash with nis teeth and
pine away : the desire of the
wicked shall perish.
Glory, & c.
Ant. In his command-
ments he has great delight.
Ant . Let the name of the
Lord.
PSALM CXII.
God is to be praised for his regard to the poor
and humble .
Laudate pueri Domi- Praise the Lord, ye oh il-
num: • laudate nomen Do- dren: praise ye the name of
mini. the Lord.
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VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS.
325
Sit nomen Domini bene-
dictum: *ex hoc nunc et
usque in sceculum.
A solis ortu usque ad oc-
casum : * laudabile nomen
Domini.
Excelsus super omnes
gentes Dominus: *et super
coelos gloria eras.
Quis sieut Dominus Deus
noster, cpi in altis habitat :
•et humilia respicit in ccelo
et in terra ?
Suscitans a terra inopem :
• et de steroore erigens pau-
perem.
Ut oollooet eum cum prin-
cipibus : * eum principibus
populi sui.
Qui habitarefacitsterilem
in domo: •matrem filiorum
lsetantem.
Gloria Patri, &c.
Ant. Sit nomen Domini.
Ant. Nos qui vivimus.
Blessed be the name of the
Lord, from henceforth now
and for ever.
From the rising of the sun
unto the going down of the
same, the name of the Lord
is worthy of praise.
The Lord is high above
all nations: and his glory
above the heavens.
Who is as the Lord our
God, who dwelleth on high :
and looketh down on the low
things in heaven and in
earth P
Raising up the needy from
the earth, and lifting up the
poor out of the dunghill :
That he may place them
with princes, with the prin-
ces of his people.
Who maketh a barren
woman to dwell in a house,
the joyful mother of chil-
dren.
Glory, &c.
Ant. Let the name of the
Lord be blessed for ever.
Ant. We that live.
PSALM CXVI.
Laud ate -Dominum om- O praise the Lord, all
nes gentes: * laudate eum ye nations: praise him all
omnes populi. ye people.
Quoniam confirmata est For his mercy is confirmed
super nos misericordia ejus : upon us : and the truth of
• et veritas Domini manet in the Lord remaineth for ever,
setemum.
Gloria Patri, &c. Glory be to the Father,
&c.
Ant. Nos qui vivimus Ant. We that live bless
benedicimus Domino. our Lord.
In Paschal time , Ant. Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah.
2 E
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326
VESPERS ON SUNDAYS.
The Little Chapter . — 2 Cor. 1.
Benedictus Deus, et Blessed be the God and
Pater Domini nostri Jesu Father of our Lord Jesus
Christi, Pater misericordi- Christ, the Father of mer-
arum, et Deus totius con* cies, and God of all comfort,
solationis, qui consol atur nos who comforts us in all our
in omni tribulatione nostra, tribulation.
B. Deo Gratias. B. Thanks be to God.
The Hymn Lucis Creator.
Luc is Creator optime,
Lucem dierum proferens,
Primordii8 lucis novee,
Mundi parans originem.
Qui mane junctum vesperi,
Diem vocari pracipis,
Ulabitur Tetrum Chaos ;
Audi preces cum fletibus.
Ne mens gravata crimine,
Vitae sit exul munere;
Dum nil perenne cogitat,
Seseque culpis illigat.
C celeste pulset ostium ;
Vitale tollat premium ;
Vitemus omne noxium ;
Purgemus omne pessimum.
Presta, Pater piissime ;
Digith
Creator of the radient
light.
Fountain of bliss, essential
sight.
Emitting splendour’s orient
beam.
The world’s creation to pro-
claim.
Who, with the mom’s en-
livening ray,
Dispell’st the shades and
call’st the day ;
Approaching night o’er-
spreaas the spheres ;
Now gracious hear our
sighs and tears.
Distain’d with guilt and
foul offence,
Let not a sudden summons
hence,
Present us at thy awful
seat,
Victims of fleeting vain
deceit.
But rather while at mer-
cy’s door,
Contrite, our treasons we
deplore,
Admit thy suppliants ; grant
us peace.
That triumph of thy saving
grace.
Eternal F ather, lend thine
ear;
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VESPERS ON SUNDAYS. 327
Patrique compar, Unice ; Co-etemal Son, receive our
prayer ;
Cum Spiritu Paracleto, O HolyGhost, we cry to thee,
Regnans peromne sseculum. God! three in one eternally.
Amen. Amen.
V. Dirigatur, Domine, ora- Y. Let my prayer, like
tio mea. incense,
B. Sicut incensum in con- R. Ascend to thee, O
spectu tuo. Lord.
The Song of the B.
Magnificat • anima
mea Dominum:
Et exultavit spiritus meus
• in Deo salutan meo.
Quia respexithumilitatem
ancillce sum: *ecce enim ex
hoc beatam me dicent omnes
generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est ; * et sanctum
nomen ejus.
Et misericordia ejus a
progenie in progenies, *ti-
mentibus eum.
F ecit potentiam inbrachio
suo; * dispersit superhos
mente cordis sui.
Deposuitpotentes de sede ;
•et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bonis ;
• et divites dimissit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum
suum, *recordatU8 miseri-
cordise suse.
Sicut locutus est ad patres
nostros: • Abraham et se-
mini ejus in ssecula.
Gloria Patri, &c.
V. Mary. — Luke, i.
My soul doth magnify the
Lord:
And my spirit hath re-
joiced in God my Saviour.
Because he hath regarded
the humility of his hand-
maid ; for behold from hence-
forth all generations shall
call me blessed.
For he that is mighty,
hath done great things to
me. and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from
generation to generation, to
lem that fear him.
He hath showed might in
his arm ; he hath scattered
the proud in the conceit of
their hearts.
He hath put down the
mighty from their seat, and
ham exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry
with good things; and the
rich he hath sent away
empty.
He hath received Israel
his servant, being mindful
of his mercy.
As he spoke to our Fa-
thers, to Abraham and to
his seed for ever.
Glory, &c.
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THE LITANY
OF
THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
IN LATIN.
Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison. Kyrie,
eleison. Christe, audi nos. Christe, exaudi
nos.
Pater de coelis Deus, miserere nobis .
Fili redemptor mundi Dens, miserere nobis .
Spiritus Sancte Deus, miserere nobis .
Sancta Trinitas unus Deus, miserere nobis .
Sancta Maria,
Sancta Dei Genitrix,
Sancta Virgo virginum,
Mater Christi,
Mater Divinee gratiee,
Mater purissima,
Mater castissima,
Mater inviolata,
Mater intemerata.
Mater amahilis,
Mater admirabilis.
Mater Creatoris,
Mater Salvatoris,
Virgo prudentissima,
Virgo veneranda,
Virgo preedicanda,
Virgo potens,
Virgo clemens,
Virgo fidelis,
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LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 329
Speculum justitiee,
Sedes sapientiee,
Causa nostree leetitiee,
Vas spirituale,
Vas honorabile,
Vas insigne devotionis,
Rosa mystica.
Turns Davidica,
Turns ebumea,
Domus aurea.
Foederis area,
Janua coeli,
Stella matutina,
Salis infirmorum,
Refugium peccatorum,
Consolatrix affiictorum,
Auxilium Christianorum,
Regina Angelorum,
Regina Patriarcharum,
Regina Prophetarum,
Regina Apostolorum,
Regina Martyrum,
Regina Confessorum,
Regina Virginum,
Regina Sanctorum Omnium,
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, Parce
nobis , JDomine .
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, Exaudi
nos, JDomine .
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi. Mise-
rere nobis.
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei genitrix.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
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METHOD OF SERVING AT MASS.
[The Clerk, kneeling at the left side of the Priest, should
answer as follows :]
P. »}< In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiiitus
Sancti. Amen.
Introibo ad altare Dei.
C. Ad Deum qui leetificat juventutem meam.
P. Judica me, Dens, et disceme causam
meam de gente non sancta : ab homine iniquo
et doloso erue me.
C. Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea : qnare
me repulisti, et quare tristis incedo dum affli-
git me inimicus.
P. Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam:
ipsa me deduxerunt et adduxerunt in montem :
sanctum tuum, et in tabemacula tua.
C. Et introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum
qui leetificat juventutem meam.
P. Confitebor tibi in cithara, Deus, Deus
mens : quare tristis es anima mea, et quare
conturbas me?
C. Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor
illi, salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.
P. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto ;
C. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et sem-
per, et in seecula seeculorum. Amen.
P. Introibo ad altare Dei.
C. Ad Deum qui leetificat juventutem meam.
P. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.
C. Qui fecit coelum et terrain.
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METHOD OF SERVING AT MASS. 331
P. Confiteor Deo, &c.
[Bow your head when the priest begins the Confiteor,
ana continue bent till the Dominus Vobiscum .]
C. Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et di-
missis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam
eetemam.
P. Amen.
C. Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatae M arise
semper Yirgini, beato Michaeli Arcbangelo,
beato Joanni Baptistse, sanctis apostolis Petro
et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi pater, {here
turn your head towards the priest , and then
go on,) quia peccavi minis cogitatione, verbo,
et opere, {striking your breast thrice , say,y
mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa:
ideo pTecor beatam Mariam semper Yirginem,
beatum Micbaelem Arcbangelum, beatum J o-
annem Baptistam, sanctos apostolos Petrum et
Paulum, onmes sanctos, et te pater, ( here
turn again towards the priest,) orare pro me
ad Doininum Deum nostrum.
P. Misereatur vestri, &c. C. Amen.
P. Indulgentiam, &c. C. Amen.
P. Deus tu conversus vivificabis nos.
C. Et plebs tua lsetabitur in te.
P. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam
tuam.
C. Et salutare tuum da nobis.
P. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.
C. Et clamor mens ad te veniat.
P. Dominus vobiscum.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo.
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332 METHOD OF SERVING AT MASS.
C. Kyrie eleison.
C. Chris te eleison.
C. Christe eleison.
C. Kyrie eleison.
P. Kyrie eleison.
P. Kyrie eleison
P. Christe eleison.
P. Kyrie eleison.
P. Kyrie eleison.
P. Dominus vobiscum: or, Flectamus genua.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo : or, Levate.
P. Per omnia seecula seeculorum.
C. Amen.
[At the end of the Epistle say, Deo gratia 8. and after
the Gradual and Alleluia, or Tract, remove the Dook to the
gospel side of the altar, and return to the epistle side —
make a low reverence as you pass the middle of the altar,
then stand up whilst the gospel is read,]
P. Dominus vobiscum.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo.
P. Sequentia [or initium] sancti Evangelii,
&c.
[Here make the sign of the cross — 1st, upon your fore-
head ; 2nd, upon your mouth ; 3rd, upon your breast ;
and say, Gloria tibi Domine. At the end of the gospel
say,]
C. Laus tibi, Christe.
P. Dominus vobiscum.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo.
[Going to the middle of the altar, kneel and make a
reverence, then proceed to prepare the wine and water ;
present them to the priest, making a reverence; after-
wards pour water on his fingers, present him with a towel,
and return to your place at me epistle side of the altar.]
P. Orate fratres, &c.
C. Suscipiat Dominus sacrificium de mani-
bus tuis ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui.
METHOD OF SERVING AT MASS. 333
ad utilitatem quoque nostram, totiusque eccle-
siee suee sanctee.
P. Per omnia seecula seeculorum.
C. Amen.
P. Dominus vobiscum.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo.
P. Sursum corda.
C. Habemus ad Dominum.
P. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
C. Dignum et jus turn est.
[When the priest says, Sanctus , sanctus , sanctus , fyc.
ring the bell each time he pronounces it. When he spreads
his hands over the chalice, ring the bell, then proceed to
the centre of the altar, where kneeling ring the bell with
your right, and hold up the vestment with your left hand,
during the elevation. Then return to your former place,
and as often as you pass by the blessed sacrament, adore
on your knees.
P. Per omnia seecula seeculorum. C. Amen.
P. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.
C. Sed libera nos a malo.
P. Per omnia seecula seeculorum. C. Amen.
P. Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo.
[Each lime the priest says, Domtne non sum dignus ,
ring the bell. When he has received the chalice, serve
him with wine only ; on his presenting the chalice again,
serve him with wine and water. Remove the book to the
epistle side of the altar, and retire to your place on the
gospel side.]
P. Dominus vobiscum.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo.
P. Per omnia seecula seeculorum. C. Amen.
P. Dominus vobiscum.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo.
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334 METHOD OF SERVING AT MASS.
P. Ite, missa est ; or, Benedicamus Domino.
C. Deo gratias.
Note. — In Mass for the Dead, the priest says,
P. Requiescant in pace. C. Amen.
[Remove the book, if left open; kneel before the centre
of the altar, and receive the priest’s blessing.]
P. Pater, et Filins, et Spiritus Sanctus.
C. Amen. [Then rise.]
P. Dominus vobiscum.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo.
P. Initium [Sequentia] sancti Evangelii, &c.
C. Gloria tibi Domine.
At the end of the Gospel, say,
C. Deo gratias.
PSALM CXXix.
P. De profimdis clamavi ad te Domine:
Domine exaudi vocem meam.
C. Fiant aures tuee intendentes in vocem
deprecationis mere.
P. Si iniquitates observaveris Domine: Do-
mine, quis sustinebit ?
C. Quia apud te propitiatio est : et propter
legem tuam sustinui te Domine.
P. Sustinuit anima mea in verbo ejus :
speravit anima mea in Domino.
C. A custodia matutina usque ad noctem :
speret Israel in Domino.
P. Quia apud Dominum misericordia : et
copiosa apud eum redemptio.
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METHOD OF SERVING AT MASS. 335
C. Et ipse redimet Israel ex omnibus ini-
quitatibus ejus.
F. Requiem eetemum dona eis Domine.
C. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
P. A porta inferi.
C. Erue, Domine, animas eorum.
P. Requiescant in pace. C. Amen.
P. Domine exaudi orationem meam.
C. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
P. Dominus vobiscum.
C. Et cum spiritu tuo.
[At the end of the Prayer, say, Amen],
P. Requiem eetemam dona eis Domine.
C. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
P. Requiescant in pace. C. Amen.
END OF THE FIRST PART OF CATHOLIC PIETY.
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SUPPLEMENT
TO THE
MANUAL OF CATHOLIC PIETY.
ON THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS AND THE USE OF THE
LATIN LITURGY.
From the beginning of the world, the servants of God,
were always accustomed to offer sacrifice to him, by way
of acknowledging his sovereignty, and paying their homage
to him. In the law of nature, and in the law of Moses,
there was a great variety of sacrifices ; some bloody , others
unbloody ; some were called Holocausts , or Whole-burnt
Offerings ; others, Sin Offerings ; others, Offerings of
Thanksgiving ; others, Pacific or Peace Offerings. All
these sacrifices of the law of nature and the law of Moses,
were of themselves but weak and feeble elements , and
figures of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ, offered
afterwards on the altar of the cross for the sins of the
whole world.
It was to renew the memory of this great sacrifice of
the cross, and to apply the fruits of it to our souls, that
Christ our Lord instituted the Eucharist and commemora-
tive sacrifice of the Mass ; for as the ancient sacrifices
were required to represent the sacrifice of the cross, and
to prefigure the death of Christ, then to come; so. in
like manner, a commemorative sacrifice was required in
the new law, to be a standing memorial of the sacrifice of
the cross, and to represent the death of Christ, already
past. This is the solemn liturgy of the Catholic Church,
and the pure offering that is made to God in every place
among the Gentiles, according to the prophecy of Malachy,
chap. i. ver. 10, II. By it Christ is a priest for ever ,
according to the order of Melchisedech , (Psalm 109,)
whose sacrifice was bread and wine. (Gen. 15.) It is the
same in substance with the sacrifice of the cross, because
both the victim offered, and the priest, or principal offerer,
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LATIN LITURGY.
337
is the same Jesus Christ. The difference is only in the
manner of offering: in the sacrifice of the cross, Christ
offered himself in a bloody manner, and actually died ; in
the sacrifice of the Mass, he offers himself on our altars
in an unbloody manner, oy the ministry of the priests of
his church, under appearances that mystically represent
and show forth his death.
The sacrifice of the Mass is still celebrated in the
ancient language which was universally used throughout
the Roman empire, and in which the liturgy and public
offices of the church were performed in all the western
parts of Europe, when the Christian religion was first
published to tne world. All sermons, exhortations, and
instructions which regard the faithful, are regularly
delivered to them in the vulgar or maternal language which
they speak and understand ; but it is deemed an expedient
point of discipline, to retain the same ancient, fixed, and
unchangeable language, in the celebration of the aivine
mysteries, and in the solemn prayers which are addressed
immediately to God, and which regard the office of the
clergy. The chief reasons which induce the Catholic
Church to make choice of the Latin, in preference to any
of the mixed languages that sprung from it after the
dismemberment of the Roman empire, and are now in
use in the European nations, are the following:
1st — She is the church of all ages, and of all nations ;
and therefore, to show her antiquity and catholicity, as well
as her aversion to novelty and changes in religious matters,
she still retains the same ancient and universal language
which the saints have used for so many ages from the
apostles’ days, and which is fixed and unchangeable,
taught every where in public schools, generally learnea
by persons of all conditions, and the best known and
most universally understood in the western parts of the
world.
2dly — In order to preserve the purity of her faith, and
a greater conformity in her public worship in all countries,
and to avoid the various alterations and corruptions which
the living languages, spoken in different places, are liable
to in every century, tne church wisely judges, that as
there is but one true faith, there should be but one com-
mon language for all the faithful, spread over the different
nations of the world, to commune with each other in the
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338
LATIN LITURGY.
profession of one and the same faith, and in the exercise
of the same religious duties.
3rdly — Another good effect and advantage that arises
from this point of ecclesiastical discipline, is, that the same
priest can perform the public church offices in all places
where he travels ; and a Catholic is never at a loss to join
with those of his own religion, and assist at the public
worship of God, whithersoever he may have occasion to
go, since he meets with the same Mass and Liturgy, in the
same words, abroad, which he was accustomed to near at
home ; whereas, if the divine service was to be performed
in the maternal language of every country, and to be
translated into as many different tongues as the ignorant
people understand and speak in the different provinces,
there would be nothing but a Babel of confusion, and a
man of one country would be at a loss to serve God on the
Lord’s day in another country.
As to any inconvenience that may seem to attend this
ecclesiastical discipline, it is no way material, especially
when compared to the great advantages that arise from it ;
nor does it affect the substance of religion ; neither is it a
prejudice to the illiterate, who do not understand the
Latin ; for though they may not perhaps understand the
particular form of prayers, which it is only the priest’s
office to offer to God, for and in the name of the con-
gregation, yet they know them at least as to the substance,
and may find the meaning of every thing fully explained
in their manuals. They are taught from their childhood
to accompany the officiating priest through every part of
his function, with proper and suitable prayers, and are
frequently instructed in the nature, the benefit, and the
ends for which the Mass is offered, and in the manner of
assisting thereat with attention and devotion, which is
sufficient to concur in and partake of the sacrifice, though
the people should neither hear nor cite the same prayers
with the priest.
The very seeing of the priest was more than God was
pleased to require in the old law ; for we read, (St. Luke,
1. 10,) that the whole multitude of the people were praying
without , when Zacharias went into the temple to bum
incense; and (Levit. xvi. 17.) it was expressly ordered,
that there should be no man in the tabernacle, or temple,
when the high-priest went with the blood of the victims
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LATIN LITURGY.
339
into the sanctuary to make atonement, which is a clear
proof that it was not necessary for the people to hear and
understand the particular form of prayers, that the priest
offered to God for them in the sacrifices at which they
assisted. Moreover, we find that after the Babylonian
captivity, nay, even in our Saviour’s time, the public
service of the Jewish synagogue was performed in the old
Hebrew language, though it was not understood by the
common people, who only spoke the Syriac, (Nah. viii.
13,) into which the scriptures were not then translated
from the Hebrew.
But does not the sacred scripture condemn this prac-
tice? No: far from condemning, it authorises it, as
appears from what has been already said. As to the text
of St. Paul, (1 Cor. xiv.) the apostle does not speak one
word, in that whole chapter, of the liturgy of the church,
whicn at Corinth was m Greek, and consequently in a
known language. He treats of the miraculous gift of
speaking all tongues, which was communicated by the
Holy Ghost to the first believers ; and he cautions the
Corinthians against all confusion and disorder in the use
of this miraculous gift at their pious meetings and assem-
blies, by directing them, that it they spoke with tongues,
it should be done by two, or at most hy three, ana that
one should interpret the meaning of the words. In short,
the apostle only olames the abuse of the gifts of tongues,
which some of the Corinthians were guilty of, by affecting,
out of ostentation, to make extemporary prayers, and to
preach and exhort, at the same time, all or any of them
together, in tongues utterly unknown^ which, for want of
an interpreter, could be of no edification to the rest of the
faithful. But when it is done in proper circumstances,
without confusion, and when the sense of the words is
expounded by an interpreter, the apostle does not repre-
hend, but permits and orders the speaking in tongues that
are not commonly understood, as appears from the 5th
and 29th verses. Now the faithful have the public liturgy
and church office* interpreted in their ordinary prayer
books ; and their pastors are commanded by the Council
of Trent, (Sess. 22. chsro. 8,) to explain to them the mys-
teries contained in the Mass, and to teach them to accom-
pany the priest with suitable prayers and devotion adapted
to every part of it.
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THE ORDINARY
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THE HOLY MASS.
PART I.
THE PREPARATION OF THE OFFERERS, BY ACTS OF
HUMILITY, PRAISE, FAITH, ETC.
The Priest beginning at the foot of the Altar, says,
In nomine Patris, et In the name of the
Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Father, &c. Amen.
Amen.
Ant . Introibo ad al- Ant. I will go unto
tare Dei. the altar of Goa.
R. Ad Deum qui laeti- R. To God, who re-
heat juventutem meam. joiceth my youth.
The following Psalm (42nd) is omitted in Passion time,
and in Masses for the Dead.
Judica me, Deus, et
discerne causam meam
de gente non sancta : ab
homine iniquo et doloso
erue me.
R. Quia tu es, Deus,
fortitudo mea, quare me
repulisti ? et quare tris-
tis incedo, dum affligit
me inimicus ?
Judge me, O God,
and distinguish my
cause from the nation
that is not holy: from
the unjust and deceitful
man deliver me.
R. Since thou, O
God, art my strength,
why hast thou cast me
off? and why do I go
sorrowful, while the
enemy affticteth me ?
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341
P. Emitte lucem tu-
am et veritatem tuam :
ipsa me deduxemnt et
adduxenmt in montem
sanctum tuum, et in
tabemacula tua.
R. Et introibo ad
altare Dei: ad Deum
qui laetificat juventutem
meam.
P. Confitebor tibi in
cithara, Deus, Deus,
meus : quare tristis es,
anima mea ; et quare
conturbas me P
R. Spera in Deo,
quoniam adhuc confite-
bor illi: salutare vultus
mei, et Deus meus.
P. Gloria Patri, et
Filio, et Spiritui Sanc-
to :
R. Sicut erat in prin-
cipio, et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum.
Amen.
P. Introibo ad altare
Dei.
R. Ad Deum qui laeti-
ficat juventutem meam.
P. Adjutorium nos-
trum in nomine Domini.
R. Qui fecit coelum
et terram.
P. Send forth thy
light and thy truth :
they have conducted
ana brought me to thy
holy mount, and into
thy tabernacles.
R. And I will go unto
the altar of God; to
God who rejoice th my
youth.
P. I will praise thee
on the harp, 0 God, my
God : why art thou sor-
rowful, 0 my soul ; and
why dost thou disturb
me?
R. Hope in God, for
I will yet praise him :
the salvation of my
countenance, and my
God.
P. Glory be to the
F ather, and to the Son,
&c.
R. As it was in the
beginning, is new, and
ever shall be, world
without end. Amen.
P. I will go unto the
altar of God.
R. To God who re-
joiceth my youth.
P. Our help is in the
name of the Lord.
R. Who made hea-
ven and earth.
2 F 2
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THE ORDINARY OF
P. ConfiteorDeo om-
nipotent!, &c.
R. Misereatur tui
omnipotens Deus, et
dimissis peccatis tuis,
perducat te ad vitam
seternam.
P. Amen.
R. Confiteor Deo om-
nipotent!, beat* Ma-
ri*, semper virgine,
beato Michaeli arch-
angelo, beato Joanni
baptist*, sanctis apos-
tohs Petro et Paulo,
omnibus sanctis, et tibi,
pater, quia peccayi ni-
mis cogitatione, verbo,
et opere : mea culpa ,
mea culpa , mea max-
ima culpa. Ideo precor
beatam Mariam semper
virginem, beatum Mi-
chaelem archangel um,
beatum J oannem baptis-
tam, sanctos apostolos
Petrum et Paulum, om-
nes sanctos, ette, pater,
orare pro me ad Domi-
num Deum nostrum.
P. Misereatur vestri
omnijpotens Deus, et di-
missis peccatis vestris,
P. I confess to al-
mighty God, &c.
ft. May almighty
God be merciful to thee,
and forgiving thee thy
sins, bring thee to life
everlasting.
P. Amen.
R. I confess to al-
mighty God, to blessed
Mary, ever virgin, to
blessed Michael the
archangel, to blessed
John the baptist, to the
holy apostles Peter and
Paul, to all the saints,
and to thee, O father,
that I have grievously
sinned in thought, wora,
and deed : through my
fault , through my fault ,
through my exceeding
great fault. Therefore
I beseech the blessed
Mary, ever virgin, bles-
sed Michael the arch-
angel, blessed John the
baptist, the holy apos-
tles Peter and. Paul,
and all the saints, ana
thee, 0 father, to pray
to the Lord our Goa for
me.
P. May almighty God
have mercy on you,
forgive you your sins,
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THE HOLY MASS*
343
perducat vos ad vitam and bring you to life
seternam. everlasting.
R. Amen.' . R. Amen.
P . Indulgentiam, ab- P. May the almighty
solutionem, et remissi- and merciful Lord grant
onem peccaturum nos- us pardon, absolution,
trorrnn, tribuat nobis and remission of our
omnipotent et miseri- sins,
cors Dominus.
R. Amen. R. Amen.
P * Peus, tu conver- P. 0 God, thou being
sus vivificabis nos. turned towards us, wilt
receive us.
# R- Et plebs tua lseta- R. And thy people
bitur in te. shall rejoice in thee.
P . Ostende nobis, P. Show us thy mer-
Domine, misericordiam cy, 0 Lord,
tuam.
R. Et salutare tuum R. And grant us thy
da nobis. salvation.
P. Domine, exaudi P. O Lord, hear my
orationem meam. prayer.
R. Et clamor meus R. And let my cry
ad te veniat. come unto thee.
P. Dominus vobis- P. The Lord be with
cum: you :
R. Et cum spiritu R. And with thy
tuo. spirit.
When the Priest goes up to the Altar, say,
Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech
thee, 0 Lord, that we may be worthy to assist
with pure minds at the celebration of these tre-
mendous mysteries ; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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THE ORDINARY OF
When he bows down before the Altar, say,
We beseech thee, 0 Lord, by the merits of thy
saints, whose relics are enclosed in this altar,
and of all the saints, that thou wouldst vouchsafe
to forgive us all our sins. Amen.
Here at Solemn Masses, the Priest having blessed the
incense with the sign of -the cross, and these words,
u Mayest thou be blessed by him in whose honour thou
wilt be burned,” fumes the altar therewith, and then
turning to the book, reads the Introit, which, being dif-
ferent every day, may be supplied by the following
prayer :
It is in thy name, O adorable Trinity ! it is to
honour thee, and to do thee homage, that I assist
at this most holy and august sacrifice. Permit
me, then, O Lord, to unite my intention with that
of thy minister now at the altar, in offering up
this precious victim ; and give me the same sen-
timents I ought to have had on Mount Calvary,
had I been an eye-witness of that bloody sacrifice.
After which follows :
P. Kyrie eleison.
R. Kyrie eleison.
P. Kyrie eleison.
R. Christe eleison.
P. Christe eleison,
R. Christe eleison.
P. Kyrie eleison.
P. Lord have mercy
on us.
R. Lord have mercy
on us.
P. Lord have mercy
on us.
R. Christ have mercy
on us.
P. Christ have mercy
on us.
R . Christ have mercy
on us.
P. Lord have mercy
on us.
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THE HOLY MASS. 345
R. Kyrie eleison. R. Lord have mercy
on us.
P. Kyrie eleison. P. Lord have mercy
on us.
Then, if it be neither Lent or Advent, nor a Mass for
die Dead, is said or sung the angelical hymn, “ Gloria
in Exc^sis.”
Gloria in excelsis
Deo, et in terra pax
hominibus bonae volun-
tatis. Laudamuste, be-
nedicimus te, adoramus
te,glorificamus te. Gra-
tias agimus tibi propter
magnam gloriam tuam,
Domine Deus, Rex coe-
lestis,Deus Pater omni-
potens. Domine Fili
imigenite Jesu Cbriste,
Domine Deus, Agnus
Dei, Filius Patris, qui
tollis peccata mundi, mi-
serere nobis ; qui tollis
eccata mundi, suscipe
eprecationem nostram;
qui sedes ad dexteram
Patris, miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus sanc-
tus, tu solus Dominus,
tu solus altissimus, Jesu
Christe, cum Sancto
Spiritu, in gloria Dei
Patris. Amen.
Glory be to God on
high, and on earth
peace to men of good
will. We praise thee,
we bless thee, we adore
thee, we glorify thee.
We give thanks to thee
for thy great glory, O
Lord God, heavenly
King, God the Father,
almighty. O Lord Jesus
Christ, the only begot-
ten Son. O Lord God,
Lamb of God, Son of
the Father, who takest
away the sins of the
world have mercy on us ;
who takest away the
sins of the world, re-
ceive our prayer; who
sitteth at the right hand
of the F ather, have mer-
cy on us. F or thou only
art holy, thou only art
the Lora, thou only, O
Jesus Christ, together
with the Holy Ghost, art
most high, in the glory of
God the Father. Amen,
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346
THE ORDINARY OF
The Priest, turning towards the people, says,
P. Dominus vobis- P. The Lord he with
cum : you :
R. Et cum spiritu R. And with thy
tuo. spirit.
Going to the book, he reads the Collects, which being
different every day, may be supplied by the following
prayer :
Almighty and eternal God, we humbly be-
seech thee to look down from thy heavenly
sanctuary upon this congregation, ana graciously
hear these prayers which thy Church addresses
to thee for us by the ministry of this thy priest.
Grant us, in tny infinite mercy, pardon of our
sins, health of mind and body, peace in our
days, unity and increase of Catholic faith, fervent
charity, sincere devotion, patience in suffering,
and every thing else conducive to thy glory and
our own salvation ; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
At the end of the Collects, the Clerk answers, Amen.
Whilst the Priest reads the Epistle for the day,* the
following prayer may be said.
0 eternal God, who never ceasest to excite
us to the worship and love of thy holy name,
or to arm us against the attacks of the world,
the flesh, and the devil, by the public ministry
of thy church, by the doctrine of thy prophets
and apostles, ana by many other holy admoni-
tions ; grant we may faithfully attend to these
lessons of salvation, that thus our knowledge of
thy law may never rise in judgment against us,
but guide us securely to thee : through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
* See Gospels and Epistles for all Sundays and festivals, p. 388 to 481.
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THE HOLY MASS. 347
At the end of the Epistle, the Clerk answers,
R. Deo gratias. R. Thanks be to God.
Whilst the Priest reads the Gradual, or the Tract, which
differs every day, the following may be said :
How wonderful, 0 Lord, is thy name through-
out the whole earth : I will bless our Lord at all
times ; his praise shall be always in my mouth.
Be thou my God and my protector. In thee
alone will I put my trust; 0 let me never bo
confounded.
THE PRATER BEFORE THE GOSPEL.
Cleanse my heart and my lips, O almighty
God, who didst cleanse the ups of the prophet
Isaiah with a burning coal ; and vouchsafe, through
thy gracious mercy, so to purify me, that I may
worthily attend to thy holy gospel : through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Bless me, O Lord.
May the Lord be in my heart, and on my lips,
that I may worthily and in a becoming manner,
attend to his holy gospel. Amen.
P. Dominus vobis-
cum:
R. Et cum spiritu
tuo,
P. Sequentia [vel ini-
tium] sancti Evangelii
secundum, &c.
R. Gloria tibi. Do-
mine.
P. The Lord be with
you :
R. And with thy
spirit.
P. The continuation
[or the beginning] pf
the holy Gospel accord-
ing to St. &o.
R. Glory be to thee,
0 Lord.
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Whilst the Priest reads the Gospel of the day,* the fol-
lowing prayer may be said :
It is not thy interpreters, 0 God, who are now
to instruct me ; it is thy only Son ; it is his word
I am about to hear. I most gratefully embrace
this heavenly doctrine. I stand up to declare in
the face of heaven and earth, that I will walk
faithfully in that way which he hath marked out
for me. He tells me here, M that it will avail a
man nothing to gain the whole world, if he lose
his own soul ; that the sensual, the covetous, the
worldling, the libertine, the detractor, and such
as are insensible to the miseries of the poor, shall
have no share in his heavenly kingdom ; and
that in order to become his disciple, I must take
up my cross and follow him.” I receive with my
wnole heart all these sacred maxims. Grant me
the grace to put them in practice ; for to what pur-
pose should I declare myself thy disciple, if I
were not to live according to the maxims of thy
gospel ?
At the end of the Gospel, the Clerk answers,
R. Laus tibi Christe. R. Praise be to thee,
0 Christ.
Then say with the Priest, in a low voice, u May our sins
be blotted out by the words of the Gospel.”
THE NICENE CREED.
Credo in unumDeum, I Believe in one
Patrem omuipotentem, God the Father al-
factorem cceli et terrae, mighty, maker of hea-
visibilium omnium et ven and earth, and of
invisibilium. all things visible and
invisible.
* See Gospels and Epistles for all Sundays and festivals, pp. 38£-481.
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THE HOLY MASS.
349
Et in unum Domi-
nion Jesum Christum,
Filium Dei unigenitum ;
et ex Patre natum ante
omnia ssecula ; Deum
de Deo ; Lumen de Lu-
mine ; Deum verum de
Deo vero ; Genitum non
factum; consubstantia-
lem Patri, per quern
omnia facta sunt. Qui
propter nos homines, et
propter nostram salu-
tem, descendit de coelis,
et incarnatus est de
Spiritu Sancto,ex Maria
Virgine; *ET HOMO
FACTUS EST. Cru-
cifixus etiam pro nobis,
sub Pontio Pilato pas-
sus, et sepultus est ; et
resurrexit tertia die,
secundum scripturas ;
et ascendit in coelum,
sedet ad dexteram Pa-
tris et iterum venturus
est cum gloria judicare
vivos et mortuos ; cujus
regni non erit finis.
Et in Spiritum Sanc-
tum, Dominum et Vi-
• At these words the people kn«
e (Table mystery of the incarnation
And in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the only begot-
ten Son of God; and
born of the F ather be-
fore all ages ; God of
God; Light of Light;
true God of true God ;
begotten, not made ;
consubstantial to the
Father, by whom all
things were made. Who
for us men, and for our
salvation, came down
from heaven, and was
incarnate by the Holy
Ghost, of the Virgin
Mary; *AND WAS
MADE. MAN. Was
crucified also for us,
suffered under Pontius
Pilate, and was buried ;
and the third day he rose
again, according to the
scriptures ; and ascend-
ed into heaven, sitteth
at the right hand of the
F ather, and shall come
both the living and tie
dead ; of whose kingdom
there shall be no end.
And in the Holy Ghost,
the Lord and Giver of
el down to adore God for the in-
2 G
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THE ORDINARY OF
vificantem, qui ex Patre
Filioque procedit ; qui
cum Patre et Filio simul
adoratur et conglorifica-
tur ; qui locutus est per
prophet as. Et unam
sanctam Catholic am et
Apostolicam Ecclesiam
Confiteor unam Bap-
tisma in remissionem
peccatorum. Etexpecto
resurrectionem mortuo-
rum, et vitam venturi
saeculi. Amen.
Life, who proceedeth
from the F ather and the
Son ; who, together with
the F ather and the Son,
is adored and glorified ;
who spake by the pro-
phets. And one holy
Catholic and Apostolic
Church. I confess one
baptism for the remis-
sion of sins. And I
expect the resurrection
of the dead, and the life
of the world to come.
Amen.
PART II.
THE PREPARATION AND SANCTIFICATION OF THE BREAD
AND WINE FOR THE USE OF THE SACRIFICE.
P. Dominus vobis- P. The Lord he with
cum : you :
R. Et cum spiritu R. And with thy
tuo. spirit.
P. Oremus. P. Let us pray.
During the Offertory, which differs every day, may be said
the following Prayers :
O HOLY Father, almighty and eternal God,
how unworthy soever I may appear in thy pre-
sence, yet I presume to offer thee this host, by
the hands of the priest, with the same intention
which Christ my Saviour had when he first insti-
tuted this august sacrifice, and which he now has
at this very instant that he immolates himself for
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ns. I offer it in acknowledgment of thy supreme
dominion over me and all creatures. I offer it in
expiation of my crimes, in thanksgiving for all thy
benefits. I offer it to obtain from tny infinite
goodness, for my parents, benefactors, friends,
and enemies, all those precious gifts and graces
which only through him can be obtained, who is
JUST by excellence, and who became a victim for
the sins of man. I earnestly entreat thee to bless
and protect the holy Catholic Church ; our chief
pastor the Pope, our Bishops and Clergy; the
Queen and Royal Family; and all our fellow-
subjects of every denomination. Remember also,
0 Lord, the souls of the faithful departed ; and
grant them, through the merits of thy Son, eternal
light and peace. Have mercy upon all heretics,
infidels, and sinners. Bless and preserve all
mine enemies ; and as I freely forgive them the
injuries they have done, or mean to do me, so do
thou, in thy mercy, forgive me mine offences.
Amen.
The Priest offering up the Host, says,
Accept, 0 holy F ather, almighty and eternal
God, this unspotted host, which I, thy unworthy
servant, offer unto thee, my living and true God,
for my own innumerable sins, offences, and negli-
gences, and for all here present, as also for all
faithful Christians, both living and dead, that it
may avail both me and them unto eternal life.
Amen.
Putting Hie Wine and Water into the Chalice, he says,
O God, who, in creating human nature, hast
wonderfully dignified it, and still more wonder-
fully reformed it, grant that, by the mystery of
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THE ORDINARY OF
this water and wine, we may he made partakers
of his divinity, who vouchsafed to become par-
taker of our humanity, namely , Jesus Christ our
Lord, thy Son, who, with thee, in the unitv of the
Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
At Offering the Chalice, he says,
We offer thee, 0 Lord, the chalice of salvation,
beseeching thy clemency, that it may ascend
before thy divine Majesty, as a most sweet odour,
for our salvation, and for that of the whole world.
Amen.
The Priest hnmbly bowing himself, says,
Accept us, 0 Lord, in the spirit of humility,
and contrition of heart; and grant that the
sacrifice which we offer this day in thy sight, may
be pleasing to thee, 0 Lord God.
At blessing the Bread and Wine, he says,
Come, 0 almighty and eternal God, the Sanc-
tifier, and bless this sacrifice prepared for the
glory of thy holy name.
Here, in solemn Masses, he blesses the Incense, saying,
May the Lord, by the intercession of the blessed
Michael the Archangel, who standeth at the right
side of the altar of perfumes, and of all his elect,
vouchsafe to bless this incense, and receive it as
an odour of sweetness : through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
At incensing the Bread and Wine, he says,
May this incense which thou hast blessed,
O Lord, ascend to thee, and may thy mercies
descend upon us.
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At incensing the Altar, he says, Psalm cxl.
Let my prayer ascend, 0 Lord, like incense,
in thy sight ; and the lifting up of my hands, as
an evening sacrifice : place, 0 Lord, a guard
upon my mouth, and a gate of prudence before
my lips ; that my heart may not wander after
words of malice, to seek excuses in sin.
Giving the Censer to the Deacon, he says,
May the Lord enkindle within us the fire of
his love, and the flames of everlasting charity.
Amen.
At washing his Hands, he says, Psalm xxv. 6.
I WILL wash my hands among the innocent ;
and go up to thy altar, O Lord, that I may hear
the voice of praise : and publish all thy wonderful
works. O Lord, I have loved the beauty of thy
house, and the place where thy glory dwelleth.
Destroy not my soul with the impious : nor my
life with men of blood. In whose hands are
iniquities : their right hand is filled with bribes.
But I have walkea in mine innocence : rescue
me, and have mercy on me. My feet have stood
in the right path : m the assembly of the faithful
I will bless thee, 0 Lord. Glory, &c.
Bowing in the midst of the Altar, he says,
Accept, O holy Trinity, this oblation which
we make thee, in memory of the passion, resur-
rection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ;
and in honour of the ever blessed Virgin Mary,
the blessed John Baptist, the holy apostles Peter
and Paul, and all the saints, that it may be avail-
able to their honour and to our salvation. And
2q2
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THE ORDINARY OF
may they vouchsafe to intercede for us in heaven,
whose memory we celebrate on earth: through
the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Turning himself towards the People, he says,
Brethren, pray that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable in the sight of God the Father
Almighty.
R. May the Lord receive the sacrifice from thy
hands, to the praise and glory of his own name,
and to our benefit, and that of all his holy church.
When the Priest says the Secret Prayer in a low voice,
which differs every day, you may say as follows :
Mercifully hear our prayers, O Lord, and
graciously accept this oblation, which we thy
servants are making to thee ; that as we offer it
to the honour of thy name, so it may be to us a
means of obtaining thy grace in this life, and in
the next everlasting happiness : through, &c.
P. Per omnia saecula P. World without
saeculorum. end.
R. Amen. R. Amen.
THE PREFACE.
P. Dominus vobis- P. The Lord be with
cum : you :
R. Et cum spiritu R. And with thy
tuo. spirit.
P. Sursum corda. P. Raise up your
hearts on high.
R. Habemus ad Do- R. We have raised
minum. them to the Lord.
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P. Gratias agamus P. Let as give thanks
Domino Deo nostro. to the Lord our God.
R. Dignum et justum R. It is meet and
est. just.
The Preface for all the Sundays in the year, except from
Christmas to the Octave of the Epiphany, ana from
Ash- Wednesday to Whit-Sunday, inclusively.
It is truly meet, just, right, and available to
salvation, that we should always and in all
places give thanks to thee, 0 holy Lord, Father
almighty, eternal God, who, together with thine
only begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one
Goa ana one Lord ; not in a singularity of one
person, but in a trinity of one substance. For
what, according as thou hast revealed, we believe
of thy glory, the same we believe of the Son, the
same we believe of the Holy Ghost, without any
difference or distinction. So that in the confes-
sion of the true and eternal deity, we adore a
distinction in the person, an unity in the essence,
and an equality in the majesty ; which the angels
and archangels, the cherubim, and likewise the
seraphim, praise, and cease not daily to cry out
with united voice, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy,
is the Lord God of Hosts. The heavens and the
earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna to him who
is on high. Blessed is he who cometh in the
name of the Lord. Hosanna to him who is on
high.
The Common Preface for Festivals which have none proper,
and in Masses for the Dead.
It is truly meet and iust, right and available
to salvation, that we should always, and in all
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THE CANON OF THE MASS.
places* give thanks to thee, 0 holy Lord, Father
almighty, eternal God, through Christ our Lord ;
by whom the angels praise thy Majesty; the
dominations adore it ; the powers tremble before
it ; the heavens, the heavenly host, and blessed
seraphim, with common jubilee glorify it : together
with whom we humbly beseech thee to admit our
voices of praise, saying in the most suppliant
manner, Holy, Holy, Holy, &c. (as in the
foregoing Preface for Sundays.)
PART III.
THE CANON OF THE MASS, OR MAIN ACTION OF THE
SACRIFICE.
We therefore humbly beseech thee, most mer-
ciful Father, through Jesus Christ thy Son, our
Lord, that thou wouldst vouchsafe to accept and
bless these gifts and offerings, this holy and
unspotted sacrifice, which in the first place we
offer unto thee for thy holy Catholic Church, to
which we beseech thee that thou wouldst vouch-
safe to grant peace ; as also to preserve, unite,
and govern it, throughout the world; together
with thy servant N. our Pope, N. our Bishop,
and N. our Queen, as also all orthodox believers
and professors of the Catholic and Apostolic faith.
COMMEMORATION OF THE LIVING.
Be mindful, O Lord, of thy servants, men and
women, [name them,]
[Here the Priest prays awhile for those he intends to pray
for :]
And of all here present, whose faith and devotion
are known unto thee ; for whom we offer, or who
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THE CANON OF THE MASS. 357
offer up to thee this sacrifice of praise for them-
selves, and for all that belong to them ; for the
redemption of their own souls ; for the safety and
salvation they hope for ; and who now pay their
vows to thee, the eternal, living, and true God.
Being united in communion with the saints,
and honouring, in the first place, the memory of
the glorious Mary, ever virgin, mother of our
Lord Jesus Christ; as also of the blessed apostles
and martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James,
John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Simon and Thadeus, Linus, Cletus,
Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Laurence,
Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas, and
Damian, and of all thy saints ; by whose merits
and prayers, grant that we may on all occasions
be defended by the help of thy protection : through
the same Chnst our Lord. Amen.
Spreading his hands over the Oblation, he says,
We therefore beseech thee, 0 Lord, graciously
to accept this offering of our homage, as also of
thy whole family : dispose our days in thy peace,
preserve us from eternal damnation, and rank us
in the number of thine elect : through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Which oblation do thou, 0 Lord, vouchsafe, we
beseech thee, in all respects, to bless, approve,
ratify, and accept ; that it may be made to us
the body and blood of thy most beloved Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ :
Who, the day before he suffered, took bread
into his sacred and venerable hands, and with
his eyes lifted up towards heaven, to thee,
almighty God, his father, giving thanks, he
blessed it, brake it, and gave it to his disciples,
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358 THE CANON OF THE MASS.
saying : “ Take, and eat ye all of this, for THIS
IS MY BODY.”
At Solemn Masses, during the Elevation, this Hymn is
sometimes song :
O Salutaris hostia,
Quse cceli pandis ostium ;
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino,
Sit sempitema gloria :
Qui vitam sine termino,
Nobis donet in patria.
O saving host, that heaven’s
gate,
Laidst open at so dear a
rate;
Intestine war invade our
breast ;
Be thou our strength, sup-
port, and rest.
To G-od the Father, and the
Son,
And Holy Spirit, three in
one,
Be endless praise : may He
above.
With life eternal crown our
love.
After the Priest has adored and elevated the sacred Host,
he proceeds :
In like manner, after he had supped, taking
this most excellent chalice into his sacred ana
venerable hands, and giving thanks also unto
thee, he blessed it, ana gave it to his disciples,
saying : “Take, and drink ye all of this, for this
is the chalice of my blood, of the new and eternal
testament — the mystery of faith, which shall
be shed for you and for many, to the remission
of sins,”
“As often as ye do these things, ye shall do
them in commemoration of me.”
Here, after he has adored and elevated the Chalice, he
goes on :
Wherefore, we thy servants, O Lord, as also
thy holy people, being mindful as well of the blessed
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359
passion of the same Christ 4hy Son our Lord, as
of his resurrection from the dead, and his glorious
ascension into heaven, offer unto thy most ex-
cellent Majesty, of thy gifts bestowed upon us,
a pure host, a holy host, an immaculate host,
the holy bread of eternal life, and chalice of
everlasting salvation.
Upon which vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to
look with a propitious and pleasing countenance,
and to accept them, as thou wert pleased graciously
to accept the gifts of thy just servant Abel, and
the sacrifice of our patriarch Abraham, ana that
which thy high priest Melchisedech offered unto
thee, a holy sacrifice and spotless victim.
We most humbly beseech thee, 0 Almighty
God, that thou wovildst command these offerings
to be carried by the hands of thy holy angel
unto thine altar on high, in the sight of thy divine
Majesty, that as many of us as assist at this
oblation , or partake of the sacred body and blood
of thy Son, may he filled with every heavenly
grace and blessing : through the same Christ our
Lord. Amen.
THE COMMEMORATION OF THE DEAD.
Be mindful, 0 Lord, of thy servants, men
and women, who are gone before us with the
sign of faith, and rest in the sleep of peace.
[Here such Dead as are prayed for, should be particularly
mentioned.]
To these, 0 Lord, and to all who sleep in Christ,
grant, we beseech thee, a place of refreshment,
light, and peace : through the same Christ our
Lord. Amen.
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THE CANON OF THE MASS.
Striking his breast, he says :
And to us also, thy unworthy servants, who
hope in the multitude of thy mercies, vouchsafe
to grant some part and fellowship with thy holy
apostles and martyrs, with John, Stephen,
Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Mar-
celline, Peter, Felicitas, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy,
Agnes, Cecily, Anastasia, and all thy saints : into
whose company we beseech thee to admit us, not
in confidence of any merit of our own, but of
thine own gracious mercy and pardon : through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
By whom, O Lord, thou dost always create,
sanctify, quicken, bless, and give us those good
gifts; so, by him, with him, and in him is to
thee, 0 Goa the Father Almighty, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, all honour and. glory.
P. Per omnia saeecula P. For ever and ever,
saeculorum.
R. Amen. R. Amen.
PART IV.
THE COMMUNION, OR SACRAMENTAL PART OF THE
CANON.
LET US PRAY.
Instructed in thy saving precepts, and
following thy divine directions, we presume to
say:
Our Father, &c.
R. But deliver us from evil. P. Amen.
Deliver us we beseech thee, 0 Lord, from all
evils, past, present, and to come. And by the
intercession of the blessed and ever glorious Virgin
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THE CANON OF THE MASS. 361
Mary, mother of Ged, and of the holy apostles
Peter and Paul, of Andrew, and of all the saints
mercifully grant peace in our days, that through
the assistance of thy mercy, we may be always
free from sin, and secure from all disturbance :
through the same Lord Jesus Christ thy son, who
liveth and reigneth with thee God, in unity with
the holy Ghost.
P. Per omnia ssecula P. World without'
saeculorum. end.
R. Amen. R. Amen.
P. Pax Domini sit P. May the peace of
semper vobiscum. the Lord be always with
you ;
R. Etcumspiritutuo. R. And with thy
spirit.
Breaking the Host, he puts a particle thereof into thef
Chalice, saying :
May this mixture together, and consecration
of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus be to
us that receive it, or assist thereat , effectual to
eternal life. Amen.
Then bowing and striking his breast, he says thrice :
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the
world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the
world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the
world, give us peace.
In Masses for the Dead, instead of “ Have mercy on us,”
he says, twice, “ Give them rest,” and lastly u Give
them eternal rest.” The following Prayer is also
omitted :
Lord Jesus Christ who saidst to thy apostles
2 H
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THE CANON OF THE MASS.
“ I leave you peace, I give you my peace,”
regard not my sins, but the faith of thy church,
and vouchsafe to grant her that peace and unity
which is agreeable to thy will; who livest and
reiffnest for ever and ever. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
who, according to the will of thy Father, with
the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, hast, by thy
death, given life to the world, deliver me by this
thy most sacred body and blood, from all my
iniquities, and from all evils; make me always
live up to thy commandments ; and never suffer
me to be separated from thee, who livest and
reignest with God the F ather, in the unity of the
H<3y Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Let not the participation of thy body, 0 Lord
Jesus Christ, which I, though unworthy, presume
to receive, turn to my judgment and condem-
nation ; but let it, through thy mercy, become
a safeguard and remedy, both of soul and body :
wbo with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, livest and reignest God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Kneeling, rising, and taking the Host in his hands, he
says :
I WILL partake of this heavenly bread, and
call upon the name of the Lord.
He strikes his breast, saying devoutly, thrice :
Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst
enter under my roof; speak only the word, and
my soul shall be healed.
s
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363
During the time of the Priest’s communicating, it would
be profitable for persons who are not then in a state of
actually communicating, to communicate also spiritually
or in desire ; for this purpose say the following prayer :
0 that I were among the number of those
whose sanctity allows them to communicate
daily ! What a happiness, 0 my God ! could I
at this moment erect a throne for thee in my
heart, pay thee my homage, lay open to thee my
wants, and participate in the favours thou grantest
to those wno really and worthily receive thee.
But since I am unworthy, do thou, 0 Lord, supply
my want of the proper dispositions. Grant the
pardon of my manifold sins, which I detest from
the bottom of my heart, because they displease
thee. Cast thy compassionate eye upon me, and
purify my soul, that the ardent wish I now
ponceive to he united to thee by a worthy com-
munion may be speedily accomplished. But
until the arrival of so happy a moment I
earnestly entreat thee, 0 dearest Lord, that thou
wouldst make me partaker of all those advantages
which the communion of the priest may pro-
duce in those thy people. By the efficacy of
this enlivening sacrament, increase my faith,
strengthen my hope, revive in my soul the rays
of divine charity, inflame my heart with thy love,
that it may pant only for thee and live for thee
alone. Amen.
Receiving reverently both parts of the Host, he says :
May the body of our Lord Jesus Christ pre-
serve my soul to life everlasting. Amen.
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THE CANON OF THE MASS.
Taking the Chalice) he says :
What return shall I make to the Lord for all
the good things that he hath given unto me ?
I will partake of the chalice of salvation, and
call upon the name of the Lord. Praising I will
call upon the Lord, and 1 shall be saved from
mine enemies.
Receiving the Blood of onr Saviour, he says :
May the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ pre-
serve my soul to life everlasting. Amen,
Taking the first Ablution, he says :
Grant, Lord, that what we have partaken of
with our mouth, we may receive with purity
of mind ; and that of a temporal gift it may
become unto us an everlasting remedy. Amen.
Taking the second Ablution, he says :
May thy body, 0 Lord, which I have received,
and thy blood which I have drank, cleave to my
soul: and grant that no stain of sin remain
within me, who have been fed with this pure and
holy sacrament. Who livest and reignest for ever
and ever. Amen.
Having wiped his Mouth, his Fingers, and the Chalice,
he then continues the Mass.
The Communion being every day different, what follows
may be said :
Let it be now, O Lord, an effect of thy mercy,
that we who have been present at this holy
mystery may find the benefit thereof in our souls.
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PART V.
THE PUBLIC THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION.
Dominus vobiscum: The Lord be with
* . y011 •
R. Et cum spiritu R. And with thy
tuo. spirit.
P. Oremus. P. Let us pray.
The Post Communion being also different every day, what
follows may be said :
We give thee thanks 0 God, for thy mercy
in admitting us to have a part in offering this
sacrifice to thy holy name : accept it now to thy
glory, and be ^ver mindful of our weakness;
pardon all our defects, and grant our request;
through, &c. Amen.
P. Dominus vobis- P. May the Lord be
sum : with you :
R. Et cum spiritu R. And with thy
tuo. spirit.
P. Ite, Missa est. P. Depart, the Mass
is finished.
Or, if “ Gloria in excelsis” has not been said,
P. Benidicamus Do- P. Let us bless the
mino. Lord.
R. Deo gratias. R. Thanks be to God.
In Masses for the Dead.
P. Requiescant in P. May they rest in
pace. peace.
R. Amen. R. Amen.
2 H 2
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366 THE CANON OF THE MASS.
May the performance of this my homage he
pleasing to thee, O Holy Trinity ; and grant that
the sacrifice which I, though unworthy, have
offered up, in the sight of the Divine Majesty,
may he acceptable to thee, and, through thy
mercy, become a propitiation for me, and all
those for whom it hath been offered: through
Christ our Lord. Amen,
The Priest turning himself towards the people, says,
(except in Masses for the Dead.)
May almighty God, the F ather, Son, and Holy
Ghost, bless you. Amen.
P. Dominus vohis- P. May the Lord he
cum : with you :
R . Et cum spiritutuo. R . And with thy spirit.
P. Initium sancti P. The beginning of
Evangelii secundum Jo- the Gospel according
annem. to St. John.
R. Gloria tihi, Do- R. Glory be to thee,
mine. 0 Lord.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with Goa, ana God was the Word; the same
was in the beginning with God. All things
were made by him ; and without him was made
nothing that was made. In him was life, and
the life was the light of men: and the light
shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not
comprehend it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name
was John. This man came for a witness to
five testimony of the light, that all men might
elieve through him. He was not the light, but
was to give testimony of the light. It was the
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true light which enlighteneth every man that
cometh into this world.
He was in the world, and the world was made
by him, and the world knew him not. He came
unto his own, and his own received him not. But
as many as received him to them he gave power
to be made the sons of God, to those tnat believe
in his name ; who are born, not of blood nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God. And the Word was made fleshy and
dwelt amongst us. And we saw his glory, the
glory as it were of the only begotten Son of the
Father, full of grace and truth.
R. Deo gratias. R. Thanks be to God,
ANOTHER DEVOUT METHOD
OF A8SI8TING AT THE
HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS,
By turning the attention and affections of the soul towards the
mysteries of our blessed Saviour’s passion and death, which are
thereby represented and shown forth according to these words,
THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME; that is, for a perpetual
and grateful commemoration of my sufferings and death, as the
apostle explains it. — 1 Cor. xi. 26.
The Mass is called by St. Francis of Sales, Introd .
p . 2, c, 14, the sun of spiritual exercises, the centre of
religion, the heart of devotion, and the soul of piety. It is
offered to none but God alone ; as the nature of a sacrifice,
in the common judgment of all mankind, is to acknowledge
the supreme dominion of God over us, and our total sud-
jection and dependence on him. It is a standing memorial
and a commemorative sacrifice, that represents the sacri-
fice of the cross, and was prefigured oy the sacrifice of
Melchisedech, and foretold by the prophet Malichi. — c. i.
v. 10. The faithful should go to it as it they were going to
Mount Calvary, to be present at the crucifixion and death
of JesuE Christ, and assist at it with a grateful remem-
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brance and a feeling sense of his sufferings. The altar on
which this great sacrifice is offered, with a crucifix erected
thereon, is a figure of Mount Calvary, and of Christ cru-
cified. The corporal and linen cloth that covered the altar,
signify the linen cloth that wrapped the sacred body of
Christ when he was buried. The chalice denotes the holy
sepulchre of our Lord. The paten denotes the great stone
that was rolled against the door of the sepulchre. The two
candles signify the two testaments, and the light of faith
revealed to the Jews and Gentiles. The priest who offici-
ates represents the person of Christ, who is the High
Priest of the New Law ; his tonsure represents the crown
of thorns which Christ wore ; and the robes with which he
is vested, represents the robes of derision with which Christ
was ignominiously clothed. The amice represents the veil
with which his eyes were muffled, when he was desired to
prophesy who it was that struck him. The alb represents
the white robe with which he was covered by Herod out of
contempt. The cincture, maniple, and stole represent the
cords and bandages with which he was bound like a male-
factor. The chasuble, or outward vestment, represents the
purple garment with which he was clothed like a mock
king. The figure of a pillar on the front of the chasuble,
represents the stone pillar at which he was scourged ; and
the figure of a cross on the back, represents the wooden
cross which he carried on his shoulders from Jerusalem to
Mount Calvary. The three languages, Hebrew, Greek,
and Latin, which are used in the Mass, remind us of the
title of the cross, which was written in Hebrew, Greek, and
Latin letters. The different parts and ceremonies of the
Mass correspond to the different stations of his passion,
and represent all that happened from his entering into the
Garden of Olives, until the day of his ascension into heaven,
and the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles;
as will appear to the devout reader of the explanations
premised to each prayer.
A PRAYER BEFORE MASS.
O Divine Spirit, descend into my soul
purify it from the dross of its imperfections,
and replenish it with the flames of thy sacred
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affections, tliat it may breathe nothing hut thy
love, and desire nothing hut the accomplish-
ment of thy will. O ye angels, saints, and all
creatures, come help me to honour, praise,
bless, and love our Lord Jesus Christ, who once
offered himself a bloody sacrifice on the cross
for my salvation, and now offers himself an un-
bloody sacrifice on the altar for the same end.
Give me grace, O sweet Jesus, to assist at
this holy sacrifice with the fervour and devotion
of the pious shepherds in the stable of Bethle-
hem ; and with a lively faith, profound respect,
and humility of the three wise men of the East,
who came to adore thee in the manger, and
to offer thee the three mystical presents of
frankincense, gold, and myrrh, in testimony of
thy divinity, royalty and humanity. And now,
since I, who am hut dust and ashes, have
presumed to speak, permit me to follow thee in
spirit through the different stages of thy passion,
and accompany thee to Mount Calvary. —
Make me partaker of that charity which
conducted thee to it, that I may return love
for love, life for life, death for death. Give me
such a feeling sense of thy sufferings, as the
daughters of Sion had, when they met thee
with thy cross on thy shoulders, and a thorny
crown on thy head. Grant me resignation of
my will to thine, like that of thy Virgin Mother
at the foot of the cross. Prostrate before the
throne of thy divine Majesty, I humbly implore
thy pardon for all my offences, and thy grace
to avoid relapse into sin. I offer up this
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divine sacrifice, by tbe hands of thy priest, to
the glory of thy name ; in acknowledgment of
thy infinite greatness, and of my own nothing-
ness ; in thanksgiving for all thy benefits ; in
satisfaction for all my sins ; in memory of thy
dolorous passion ; and to obtain of thy bounty,
for myself and for thy whole church, for my
superiors, spiritual and temporal, for my pa-
rents, benefactors, friends, and enemies, and
all mankind, those precious graces and favours
which thou knowest us to stand in most need
of.
EXPLANATION.
u The priest going from the sacristy to the altar, and
retiring to the foot of it, in order to recite the 42nd psalm,
Judica me Deusy & c. represents Jesus Christ retiring from
his last supper, and praying to his heavenly Father in the
garden of Gethsemani, situate at the foot of Mount Olivet.
The beginning of the Mass, with the sign of the cross, and
the invocation of the three persons of the most Holy Tri-
nity, signifies that it is in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that the faithful assembled,
in order to celebrate the memory of Christ’s passion ana
death. The psalm which is then repeated^ expresses the
deep concern of. a soul kept at a distance from the temple
of God, like David when he was persecuted by Saul, and the
ardent desires with which we are to approach the altar,
and partake of the divine mysteries. Tne Jntroit , or en-
trance of the Mass, and the Conjiteor, or general confession
made to the whole court of heaven, represent the fall of
Adam, which was the source of all our miseries, and re-
mind us that we ought to dispose ourselves for this great
sacrifice by a sincere repentance for our sins.”
PRAYER AT THE BEGINNING OF MASS.
O Lord, in the multitude of thy mercies
I will enter thy house, and adore thee in thy
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holy temple and confess to thy name. Though
my sins are without number, I have still thy
goodness to appeal to, I have still a confi-
dence in the sufferings of my Redeemer, and
hope, through his infinite merits, to find mercy,
grace, and salvation. Thou, O dear Jesus,
hast washed me once in baptism ; wash me yet
mor6 from my iniquity, and cleanse me from
my sins. Sprinkle me with the hyssop of thy
blood, and I shall be cleansed ; wash me,
and I shall be made whiter than snow.
EXPLANATION.
“ The priest bowing down before the altar, and saying
the Confiteor , represents our Saviour loaded with the sins
of mankind, prostrate at his prayers in the garden, and
falling into a bloody sweat and most painful agony. The
priest going up to the altar and kissing it, represents our
Saviour going to meet his enemies, and receiving the
treacherous kiss from Judas. When he goes to the book at
the comer of the Epistle, forms the sign of the cross, and
reads the Introit , he represents our Saviour seized, bound,
and led captive to the courts of Annas and Caiphas, where
he was struck across ithe face, blindfolded, buffeted, spit
upon, and treated with the greatest indignity, by the ser-
vants of the high priest, as if he were a mock prophet.”
PRAYER AT THE INTROIT AND KYRIE.
Blessed be thou, O Jesus, for all tbou
hast suffered for our redemption. It is but
just that my sins should draw tears from my
eyes, since they have drawn streams of blood
from thy veins. I desire to join the most humble
contrition of my soul with thy agony in the
garden, and resolve to be sorry for my sins,
even unto the hour of my death. My heart
is pierced with grief to think that I have
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repaid thy goodness with such ingratitude ; hut
until I cease to live, I will never cease to
cry, with the humble publican : O God be
propitious to me a sinner . May those bonds
that tied thy innocent hands, loosen the chains
of my sins, break the fetters of my iniquities,
deliver me from the captivity of Satan, and
restore me to the sweet liberty of thy children,
that I may be enabled to cry out with thy
prophet s Thou hast broken my chains : 1 will
sacrifice to thee an host of praise . I cast
myself at thy feet, and beseech thee by thy
infinite charity, to strengthen me with thy all-
powerful grace under all trials and afflictions.
Never suffer me to betray thy sacred truths,
or to take part with the world against thee.
Grant that when any tribulation or anguish shall
assault me, I may receive it with humility
like unto thine, and with a true submission
and resignation to thy heavenly Father’s will.
Grant that under the severest scourges I may
call upon thee as a father, confide in thee as a
father, and seek no comfort out of thee. Re-
member me at my last hour, when the terrors
of death shall begin to seize me ; then let thy
angels comfort me; then let the memory of
thy sufferings support me against all appre-
hensions, that no fear of death or judgment
may ever lessen the hope I ought to repose
in thee.
EXPLANATION.
u The repetition of the Kyrie Eleison , Christe Eleison ,
&c. (that is, Lord have mercy on ns, Christ have mercy
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on us,) three times, in honour of each of the three Divine
Persons, reminds us that Christ was denied three times by
St. Peter. The Dominus vobiscurriy or, Our Lord be witn
you, which is the usual salutation in the scriptures, and
which the priest says after the Gloria in Excelcis , it Deing
the greatest of all blessings for the Lord to be with us, ana
we with him, reminds us how Peter was touched with re-
pentance, when Christ cast a glance of his merciful eyes
upon him. The aforesaid hymn, which a choir of angels
sung in the air at our Saviour’s birth, denotes the joy mat
is in heaven among the angels upon the conversion of a
sinner, The Kyries also remind us of the longing desires
of the holy fathers for the coming of the Messiah. The
Gloria represents Christ’s nativity. The Collects, Epis-
tle, and Gospel, his prayers, miracles, and preaching. —
The priest returning to the epistle siae of the altar, and
reading the Collects and the Lesson, represents Christ
sent by Caiphas to Pilate, after being falsely accused and
unjustly condemned by the Sanhedrim of the Jews. Then
the priest goes to the middle of the altar, and humbly bow-
ing himself down, prays in silence. This represents Christ
conducted to Herod, and interrogated ana scoffed at by
him, without returning the least answer, or saying a word
to justify himself. The priest going to the gospel side of
the altar, and returning to the middle to make a profession
of faith, by repeating the Nicene Creed, represents Christ
sent back to Pilate in a fool’s dress, ana professing that he
came to bear witness to the truth, and that his kingdom is
not of this world. The removal of the Mass -book worn the
right to the left side of the altar, signifies that the new law
of the gospel being rejected by the Jews, who were the
first called, was preached to the Gentiles, who embraced
it with joy, and were converted to the Christian religion in
great multitudes. The lighted candles are emblems of their
spiritual joy and of God’s glory, and denote the light of
faith which Christ brought to tie world by his gospel. —
At the beginning of the gospel, the priest and the people
make the sign of the cross, first upon their foreheads, to
signify that they are not ashamed of the cross of Christ,
nor of his doctrine ; secondly, upon their mouths, to denote
that they are ready to profess it openly by word of mouth ;
and thirdly, upon their breasts, to signify that they will
always preserve it carefully in their hearts. The people
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3T4 EXPLANATORY PRAYERS AT MASS.
rise up and stand during the gospel, to show by this pos-
ture tneir readiness to go and practise whatever they shall
be commanded by the word of God.”
PRATER AT THE GLORIA, EPISTLE, AND GOSPEL.
Let heaven and earth join together, and
the choirs of angels he united with the voices
of men, to sing eternal praises to God, in
trinity and unity, for the mercies we have re-
ceived in the admirable work of our redemption.
0 my amiable Jesus, how am I hound to
love thee! How black must my ingratitude
he, if, after such demonstrations of love, I
can continue to offend thee ! I am the offender,
1 am the malefactor, and thou hast taken
upon thee the punishment due to my sins ! It
is I who deserve to he accused, arraigned,
dispised, and condemned, and not thou: O
innocent and spotless Lamb of God, eternal
praise he to thy name. Whilst the Jews
proclaim thee a blasphemer, I own thee for
my Lord ; and beseech thee, that under all
reproaches and calumnies I may remember
what thou hast suffered for me, and that I
may endeavour, by an humble and patient
silence, to show myself on all occasions to be
thy true disciple. Grant that whenever I
am persecuted by lies or false accusations,
thy example may be my comfort, my model,
and my rule. Give me courage, constancy,
and patience, under all the injuries, crosses,
and contradictions, which thy providence shall
permit to befall me during my pilgrimage
here on earth. Do not suffer me to despair
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of thy mercy, or die in my sins, like unhappy
Judas: hut soften my stony heart, and melt it
into tears of compunction. Leave me not to
myself, hut teach me to confide wholly in thee.
Look on me with an eye of pity, and awaken
me from the sleep of death, that I may bewail
my past sins in the bitterness of my soul, and
persevere in serving thee and promoting thy
glory. May the fall of Peter he a lesson to me
all the days of my life, to shun all evil com-
pany, to fly all the dangerous occasions of sin,
and never to deny thee, my Lord and my God,
either by word or deed 5 hut openly to profess
my faith without fear or shame. I thank thee
for revealing thy heavenly truths, and for in-
structing us by thy holy apostles in the only
true saving faith. Give me grace to attend to
thy doctrine, to live up to the maxims of thy
gospel, to profess thy faith by the practice
of good works, and never to swerve from thy
sacred law. Have mercy on all those that are
involved in the dismal state of mortal sin, and
grant them the grace of sincere repentance.
Let the light of thy countenance shine upon
those who are sitting in the darkness of infi-
delity, and in the gloomy shade of death. —
Bring hack the strayed sheep to thy fold, and
unite them to the communion of thy church,
that we may all become one sheepfold under
one shepherd.
EXPLANATION.
u When the priest unveils the chalice for the Offertory,
he represents Christ stripped of his garments and bound to
the pular. The offering of the breaa on the paten, denotes
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Christ offering up his body to be scourged. The mingling
of the water with the wine, denotes the water and blood
that flowed from his side on the cross. The offering the
chalice with the wine, represents Christ scourged, and the
streams of his blood flowing down upon the ground. The
covering the chalice with the paten, represents him
crowned with thorns, and treated as a mock king. The
washing of the fingers at the Laval to, reminds us how Pilate
washed his hands before the multitude, and pronounced
Christ innocent and just. The Orate Fratres reminds us
that Christ was shown to the people with ensigns of mock
royalty, Pilate crying out at tne same time : Ecce Homo ,
Behold the man. The priest saying the Secret Prayers in
silence, represents Christ condemned to be crucified, and
submitting to the unjust sentence without any defence or
reply. The Preface, (so called because it serves as an in-
troduction to the Canon of the Mass,) and the Canticle of
the Hebrew children, which are repeated with a loud voice,
remind us that Christ was loaded with the cross ; the pious
Hosanna being changed into the clamorous and cruel Cru-
cifige , or crucify him.”
PRATER AT THE OFFERTORY, LAVABO, AND
PREFACE.
O my soul ! run to thy suffering Lord, and
at his feet pour out thyself in thanksgiving,
and in all the ecstacies of love and praise. It
is thy God that suffers, that he may redeem a
slave, a poor sinful worm of the earth. When
I behold thee, O dear Jesus, stripped naked,
fastened to the pillar, cruelly scourged, tom,
and mangled, I see the immensity of thy love
for us, and the greatness of our sins against
thee. I see in thy wounds, the slavery into
which we are degraded, and the punishment
due to our crimes. Our sins hound thy hands,
and every stroke thou didst receive was the
effect of our iniquities. I offer thee my heart
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and soul, to be eternally consecrated to thy
divine service, and to be washed and purified
in the purple streams that gushed forth from
every pore of thy sacred body. I throw my-
self into the arms of thy infinite mercy, with a
firm resolution to die rather than renew thy
passion, by relapsing into any mortal sin. No,
dear Redeemer, I never will prefer Barabbas
to thee ; I never will set thee in competition
with the world, or its delusive charms, sinful
pleasures, or sordid interests. O amiable Jesus,
thou shalt be my choice for ever. I will strike
no more nails into thy hands by my evil
deeds. I will add no more thorns to thy pain-
ful crown by my sinful thoughts. I will no
more pierce thy sacred side by any unlawful
desires. I will not scourge thy holy flesh by
curses or blasphemies, nor crucify thee over
again by any fresh crime. I am determined,
with thy assistance, to put off the old man with
all his acts, by a candid and naked confession
of all my past sins. O grant that I may never
appear naked of virtue in thy sight ; but may
be clad with the white robe of innocence when
I shall be presented before thy awful tribunal.
Pierce my heart with the thorns of penance
and compunction here, that I may, through
thy merits, be crowned with glory hereafter.
Grant that whenever I am under any affliction,
meet with any adversity, disgrace or contempt,
or feel any part of the thorny crown on my
head, I may rejoice in bearing such a resem-
blance of thy sufferings, and show by my
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patience and humility whose disciple I am.
Give me grace to submit with cheerfulness to
the rod of thy paternal correction ; and support
my natural weakness, that I may not sink
under the weight of any cross with which it
shall please thy Divine Providence to visit me.
Disengage my heart from all earthly affections.
Raise and elevate my soul to thee, that I may
always live and converse in heaven, where
thou, my only treasure, art. I now presume
to join my unworthy voice with the heavenly
choirs of all thy angels and saints, who are
incessantly singing eternal praises to thee :
Holy , Holy , Holy , Lord God of Sabaoth ;
Heaven and Earth are full of thy glory :
Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the
Lord: Hosannah in the highest , <f*c.
EXPLANATION.
“ The Canon, which is the most sacred and most solemn
part of the Mass, is read in a low voice, to denote the
mourning and affliction of the faithful at the time of our
Saviour’s passion, which amazed and silenced all nature.
The priest raises his hands, in imitation of Moses, who,
as we read, (Exod. xvii. prayed with his hands lifted up,
whilst Josue was combating with the Amalekites. After
the Memento for the living he spreads his hands over the
bread and wine that are to be consecrated, in imitation
of the priests of the old law, who were ordered, (Lev. 1.)
when they offered sacrifice, to lay their hands upon the
victim before it was immolated. These ceremonies repre-
sent Christ led away to be crucified, carrying his cross on
his shoulders to Mount Calvary, admonishing the devout
women on the way, who wept over him, to mourn for
themselves and for their children; and when he arrived
at the end of his painful journey, stripped again of his
garments, and laid on the painful bed, without any other
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pillow to support his head but the thorns with which he
was crowned. The signing of the oblation with the sign
of the cross, denotes how his hands and feet were stretched
and nailed on the cross. The separated consecration of
the bread and wine, represents his body slain, and his blood
shed, for the remission of our sins. The elevation of the
consecrated Host, represents him exalted on the cross in
the sight of the whole multitude. The elevation of the
Chalice represents the sacred blood flowing from his
wounds. The ringing of the bell denotes the earthquakes
and other signs which happened at his death. The five
crosses formed over the oblation, signify the five principal
wounds in his body. The time from the elevation to the
communion corresponds to the three hours he hung alive
on the cross. The Memento for the dead denotes that
whilst he was thus elevated between heaven and earth, he
prayed as a powerful mediator for the whole world, even
for his enemies and crucifiers. The conversion of the
thief on the cross, on one side of him, is represented by
the priest striking his breast, and saying, nobis <moque
peccatoribu8. The seven petitions of the Pater Foster
remind us of Christ’s last words on the cross. The
breaking of the Host is used in imitation of his having
broken it before he gave it to his disciples at his last supper.
The breaking of it in three parts represents his mystical
body, or the church in three states : the blessed in heaven,
the souls in purgatory, and the faithful on earth; this great
sacrifice being offered for the whole church, triumphant,
suffering, and militant; in honour of the first, that is,
in thanksgiving to God for all the graces bestowed upon
them, and for all the happiness they enjoy; for the relief
of the second, to obtain a speedy admittance for them into
eternal glory; and for the benefit of the last, according
to the four great ends of sacrifice. The breaking of the
Host also represents the death of Christ on the cross, and
is a figure ot his soul being separated from his body after
he bowed down his sacred head. The mixing a particle
of the Host with the sacramental species in the chalice,
represents the descent of his soul into Limbo , or the prison
of the Fathers of the old testament.”
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380 EXPLANATORY PRAYERS AT MASS.
PRAYER AT THE CANON OP THE MASS.
O King of glory ! when shall I leave this
earthly prison, tins miserable Babylon, and
be admitted into thy lovely tabernacles? O
ocean of sweetness, and fountain of divine love,
when shall I contemplate thee face to face in
thy happy kingdom ? My sins are a terror to
my soul, but having so plentiful a redemption,
I never will despair. Thy wounds cry out
for mercy. Mercy, then, O God of goodness !
have mercy on me. O Jesus, be a Jesus to
my soul, and save me. I am thy purchase,
snatched from the jaws of hell by the merits of
thy sacred passion ; accept me, therefore, an
unworthy sinner. Purify me in those sacred
streams that flowed from thy bleeding wounds,
and present me to thy eternal Father, that
through thee I may obtain his blessing and
favour, which of myself I do not deserve. Ex-
tinguish in me all ambition, pride, and vanity,
the love of the world, and every degree of
vicious self-love. Grant me true humility, per-
fect patience, unfeigned charity, and sincere
devotion. Give me only grace to practise what
thou commandest, and command what thou
pleasest. Increase true religion; plant thy
faith in our hearts ; give peace and unity to
thy church ; repentance and pardon to all sin-
ners. Grant comfort to the sick and afflicted ;
relief to the distressed ; mercy, grace, and sal-
vation to all those for whom thou hast shed
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thy blood, and whom I am bound to pray for,
particularly N. We render thee thanks for
admitting us to have a part in this great sacri-
fice, which thy Catholic Church offers to thy
holy name, by the hands of the priest, for thy
people. Accept it now, we beseech thee, O
Lord, to thy glory, in satisfaction for all our
offences and ingratitude, and in union with
that divine intention with which our blessed
Saviour offered it up, when he instituted it at
his last supper, and consummated it upon the
altar of the cross.
PRAYER AT THE ELEVATION OF THE CONSECRATED
HOST AND CHALICE.
Hail, O King of glory, Prince of peace, and
Saviour of the world! Hail, O immaculate
Host ! offered for me and all mankind on the
cross! I adore, bless, and glorify thee, O
loving Jesus, with all the faculties of my soul
and body. May all thy creatures sound forth
thy praises. O sacrament of piety ! O sign of
unity ! O bond of charity ! O the goodness
of my God ! O how wonderful are the ways
of divine love ! How incomprehensible are the
riches of the divine bounty !
O my bleeding Jesus, I bow down to the
ground to adore thee ! Hail ! most precious
blood, shed for me and the sins of the whole
world! Hear, O eternal Father, the voice of
thy Son’s blood, that cries out loudly to heaven,
not for vengeance, but for mercy : let it now
speak in my behalf, and plead my pardon ;
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382 EXPLANATORY PRAYERS AT MASS,
let it blot out my iniquities, and cleanse my
soul from all the foul stains of sin. I beg
it most humbly for the sake of Jesus, who died
upon the cross for my redemption.
PRAYER AFTER THE ELEVATION.
Behold, O almighty and all-gracious God,
thy Son, Jesus, in whom thou art well pleased.
Look upon the face of thy Christ and my
Saviour, here present Look upon this spot-
less lamb, this adorable victim, this pure holo-
caust of obedience, humbled to the very death
of the cross. Behold in him what may move
thee to look down upon us with an eye of
mercy, and to forgive us our sins. He is our
High Priest, sprinkled with his own blood.
Receive the sacrifice he has offered for us, in
consideration of all the honours and homages
that are due to thy sovereign goodness from
me and all creatures. Extend, O compas-
sionate Creator, the virtue of it unto the souls
in the church suffering, and grant to the faithful
departed rest and life everlasting, particularly
to N. ; mitigate their punishment, and trans-
late them to that state of glory for which thou
hast designed them. Thou hast formerly
promised, that looking on thy rainbow thou
wouldst remember the covenant made between
thee and the patriarch Noah, {Genes, ix.) ;
canst thou then look down on the blood of
thy beloved Son Jesus, offered here to thee
in sacrifice, and not remember the great cove-
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nant of the new law, sealed and confirmed
with the effusion of his sacred blood ?
O dear Jesus ! that I could love thee as
thy goodness deserves. The more thou hast
humbled thyself for my sake, the more I am
bound to love thee. Remember thou hast
bought me at a dear rate. O let not thy blood
be lost or spilt in vain for me; but receive
me into the number of the elect. I detest my
sins, which were the cause of thy sufferings,
and thy most cruel executioners. My crimes,
alas ! were the nails that bored thy hands and
feet, and fastened thee to an ignominious cross.
0 who will give sorrow to my heart, and a
fountain of tears to my eyes, that I may be-
wail them in the bitterness of my soul all the
days of my life, and that at the hour of my
departure I may, by means of a true con-
version, be entitled to hear those comfortable
words which thou saidst to the penitent thief
on the cross : This day shalt thou he with me
in paradise . I acknowledge my unworthiness,
1 do not deserve to be ranked among the
number of thy children, yet I will presume to
say that heavenly prayer which thou hast taught
me : “ Our Father, who art in heaven,” &c.
EXPLANATION.
“When the priest strikes his breast, and says the Agnus
Dei , (that is, O Lamb of God, &c.) he reminds us of the
Centurian and many others striking their breasts with sor-
row, and bewailing their offences, when they beheld Christ
expiring on the cross, and were eye-witnesses of the prodi-
gies which happened at his death. The Prayer for Peace,
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384 EXPLANATORY PRAYERS AT MASS.
before the communion of the priest, signifies, that to com-
municate worthily, we must be in peace with God and our
neighbour, and approach with a clean heart and pure con-
cience. The priest’s communion is a sign of the burial of
Christ’s body, which was taken down from the cross,
wrapped up m clean linen, and laid in a new monument,
cut out of a rock, near Mount Calvary. The purifying
and covering of the chalice represents Christ’s sepulchre,
shut and covered with a stone. The resurrection of
Christ from the dead is represented by the priest going to
the comer of the Epistle, and reading the Post Communion,
the mass-book being brought back to the right side of the
altar, to signify that the Jews are to be converted to the
Christian faith at the end of the world. Dominus vobis -
cum represents Christ appearing to his disciples, and giving
them his peace. The last Collect represents Christ con-
versing forty days with his disciples, and speaking to them
of the Kingdom of God. The last Dominus vobiscum , re-
presents Christ’s last apparition to his disciples ; and the
blessing given by the priest to the people, denotes that
Christ lifted up both his hands, and blessed his apostles
and other disciples before he left them, and in their sight
ascended into heaven. The Ite Missa est , and the read-
ing of the Gospel at the left comer of the altar, denote
that Christ came not to call the just, but sinners, to repent-
ance : and sent his apostles to teach all nations ; ana that
they preached the gospel with amazing success in all parts
of the known world, after the descent of the Holy Ghost.”
PRAYER AT THE AGNUS DEI.
O innocent Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world, have mercy on me ;
for nothing is more pleasing to thee than to
have compassion on those that are miserable.
Give me tears of repentance, that I may mourn
for the evil I have committed. In thee I place
all my hope, because thou alone art my salva-
tion, my strength, my refuge, and the fountain
of all my good. I most humbly beseech thee.
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by the anguish of thy passion, and hy thy suffer
ings on the cross, especially at that hour when
thy blessed soul left thy body, to spare me in
that dreadful moment, and have mercy on my
soul* Let me experience the multitude of thy
tender mercies, when I shall be in conflict with
the pangs of death. Let thy passion and death
stand then between my soul and thy justice.
I accept the sentence of my death, in whatever
manner I am to suffer it, in union with thy
death on the cross. I humbly submit to it, and
now offer it to thy divine majesty as a sacrifice
and a just punishment due to my sins. I com-
mend my soul into thy hands, and most earnestly
entreat thee to give me thy blessing this day,
and to grant me perseverance in thy service,
that on the day of judgment I may be ranked
in the happy number of those blessed souls, who
are to be invited by thee to take possession of
the kingdom of thy glory. During the time of
my sojourn here on earth, preserve me from
thirsting after the false goods of this world. —
May I always remember thy vinegar and gall,
and rest contented with what is sufficient to
support nature. May I every day increase in
thy love, and may all created objects be of little
account with me, that thou mayest be the only
delight of my soul and my everlasting joy.
PRATER AT THE COMMUNION.
I Adore, O dear Jesus, thy sacred body and
blood, soul and divinity, here present on the
altar under the sacramental forms. Praised be
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386 EXPLANATORY PRAYERS AT MASS.
this most holy sacrament with as many praises
as there are stars in the heavens, atoms in the
air, drops of water in the ocean, sands in the
sea, sparks in the fire, motes of dust upon the
earth, flowers in the spring, grains of corn in
the summer, leaves in the autumn. Hakes of
snow and hailstones in the winter, or creatures
in the universe. O that I had the necessary
dispositions of a worthy communicant! how
willingly would I unite myself to my divine
Redeemer in this sacrament of love ! O may
I receive it worthily at the hour of my death,
that it may serve me as a viatic to a happy
eternity. Though I am unworthy to receive it
now sacramentally, yet I wish to receive it
spiritually into my soul by faith, love, and de-
votion. Enter then, O divine bridegroom, into
this poor lodging : you vouchsafed to lodge in a
stable, you did not refuse to enter into the house
of Zachaeus, the publican ; enter into my house
as into the house of another Zacheeus, and give
a blessing to my soul, as thou didst to the house
of Zacheeus : say unto me, as thou saidst unto
him : Salvation is this day come to this house . —
Luke, xix.
▲ PRAYER AT THE LAST COLLECTS, &C.
Pratse, honour, and glory be to thee, O
blessed Redeemer, who coming forth out of the
grave, didst rise triumphantly from the dead,
and having conversed with thy disciples for
forty days, didst ascend into heaven, where
thou sittest at the right hand of thy eternal
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Father. Inflame my heart and soul with thee,
that I may seek nothing hut to he united to
thee for ever in heaven.
Hear, O eternal Father, whatever the holy
Catholic Church asks of thee in the name of
thy beloved son. We beseech thee, that this
our sacrifice may he acceptable in thy sight,
and become profitable to us and to thy whole
church. Receive my unworthy prayers, supply
all my defects, pardon all my indevotions, dis-
tractions, and irreverences. Engrave in my
heart the rules and maxims of thy gospel, and
give me grace to live according to them. Teach
me to follow thy example, that rising with thee
to a new life of piety and holiness, and walk-
ing in thy footsteps, I may live to thee alone,
and advance every day towards everlasting
happiness. Amen.
I did not judge to know anything among
you , hut Jesus Christ , and him crucified . —
St. Paul, 1 Cor. ii. 2.
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THE
EPISTLES AND GOSPELS
FOR THE
SUNDAYS AND PRINCIPAL FESTIVALS
THROUGHOUT THE TEAR.
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
EPISTLE. Rom. xiii. 11, 14. Brethren: Know,
that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For
now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.
The night is past, and the day is at hand : let us there-
fore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the ar-
mour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day ;
not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and
impurities, not in contention and envy : but put ye on
the Lord Jesus Christ.
GOSPEL. Luke xxi. 25, 33. At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : There shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon, and in the stars ; and upon the earth
distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the
roaring of the sea ana of the waves, men withering
away tor fear, and expectation of what shall come upon
the whole world. For the powers of the heavens shall
be moved ; and then they shall see the ^on of Man
coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But
when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and
lift up your heads ; because your redemption is at hand.
And he spoke to them a similitude : See the fig-tree
and all the trees : when they now shoot forth their
fruit, you know that summer is nigh : so you also, when
you snail see these things come to pass, Know that the
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SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. 389
kingdom of God is at hand. Amen, I say to you, this
generation shall not pass away till all things be ful-
filled. Heaven and earth shall pass away ; but my
words shall not pass away. Cbedo.
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
EPISTLE. Rom. xv. 4, 13. Brethren: What things
soever were written, were written for our learning, that
through patience and the comfort of the scriptures we
might have hope. Now the God of patience and of
comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards ano-
ther, according to Jesus Christ; that with one mind,
and with one mouth, you may glorify God and the Father
of our Lord J esus Christ. Wherefore receive one ano-
ther, as Christ also hath received you unto the honour
of God. For I say that Christ J esus was minister of
the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the
promises made unto the fathers. But that the Gentiles
are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written :
“Therefore, will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the
Gentiles, and will sing to thy name.” And again, he
saith: “Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.” And
again: “ Praise the Lord all ye Gentiles, and magnify
him all ye people.” And again Isaiah saith: “There
shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise up to
rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope.” Now
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in be-
lieving, that you may abound in hope, and m the power
of the Holy Ghost.
GOSPEL. Matt . xi. 2, 10. At that time: When
John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending
two of his disciples he said to him : Art thou he that
art to come, or look we for another ? And Jesus mak-
ing answer, said to them : Go and relate to John what
you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead
rise again, tne poor have the gospel preached to them ;
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390 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
and blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me.
And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to
the multitude, concerning John : What went ye out
into the desert to see ? A reed shaken with the wind ?
But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft
garments ? Behold, they that are clothed in soft gar-
ments are in the houses of kings. But what went ye
>ut to see? A prophet? Yea, I tell you, and more than
x prophet. For this is he of whom it is written : “ Be-
hold, I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare
thy way before thee.” Credo.
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
EPISTLE. Philip iv. 4, 7. Brethren : Rejoice in
the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your
modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh. Be
nothing solicitous: but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving, let your petitions be
made known to God. And the peace of God, which
surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus.
GOSPEL. John i. 19, 28. At that time: The
Jews sent from Jerusalem Priests and Levites to John,
to ask him: Who art thou? And he confessed, and
did not deny ; and he confessed : I am not the Christ.
And they asked him : What then ? Art thou Elias?
And he said : I am not. Art thou a prophet? And
he answered: No. They said therefore unto him:
Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them
that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said :
“I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make
straight the way of the Lord” as said the prophet
Isaias. And they that were sent were of the Pharisees.
And they asked him and said to him : Why then dost
thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the
prophet? John answered them, saying: I baptize
with water ; but there hath stood one in the miast of
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FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
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you, whom you know not. The same is he that shall
come after me, who is preferred before me ; the latchet
of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. These things
were done in Bethania beyond the Jordan, where
John was baptizing. — Credo.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
EPISTLE. 1 Cor . iv. 1, 5. Brethren : Let a man
so acount of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the
dispensers of the mysteries of God. Here now it is re-
quired amongst the dispensers that a man be found
faithful. But to me it is a very small thing to be judged
by you, or by man's day : but neither do I iudge my
own self. Fbr I am not conscious to myself of any
thing: yet I am not hereby justified ; but he that
judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge not before
the time till the Lord come ; who both will bring to
light the hidden things of darkness, and will make
manifest the counsel of hearts : and then shall every
man havepraise from God.
GOSPEL. Luke iii. 1, 6. Now in the fifteenth
year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judea, and Herod Tetrarch of Gali-
lee, and Philip his brother Tetrarch of Iturea and the
country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abi-
lana, under the high priests Annas and Caiphas) the
word of the Lord came to J ohn, the son of Zachary, in
the desert. And he came into all the country about the
Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the re-
mission of sins, as it was written in the book of the
words of Isaias the prophet : “ A voice of one crying
in the wilderness : prepare ye the way of the Lord :
make straight his paths : every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be brought low :
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough
ways plain and all flesh shall see the salvation of
God. Credo.
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392
CHRISTMAS DAY.
CHRISTMAS DAY.
FIRST MASS. AT MIDNIGHT.
EPISTLE. Tit. ii. 11, 15. Dearly beloved: The
grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men.
Instructing us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly
desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly,
in this world, looking for the blessed hope, and coming
of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ : who gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a
people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These
things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all autho-
rity. Let no man despise thee.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 1, 14. And it came to pass
that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled.
This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus the governor
of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into
his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee
out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem : because he was of
the house and family of David, to be enrolled with
Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it
came to pass, that when they were there, her days were
accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she
brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up
in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, be-
cause there was no room for them in the inn. And
there were in the same country shepherds watching and
keeping the night watches over their flock. And be-
hold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the bright-
ness of Goa shone round about them, and they feared
with a great fear. And the angel said to them : Fear
not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,
that shall be to all the people : for this day is born to
you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of
David. And this shall be a sign unto you : you snail
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CHRISTMAS DAT.
393
find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid
in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and
saying : Glory to God in the highest ; and on earth
peace to men of good-will. Credo.
SECOND MASS. AT BREAK OF DAY.
EPISTLE. Tit. iii. 4, 7. Most dearly beloved :
The goodness and kindness of God our Saviour ap-
S eared : not by the works of justice, which we have
one, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the
laver of regeneration, and renovation of the Holy Ghost,
whom he hath poured forth upon us abundantly,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour : that being justified
by his grace, we may be heirs according to hope of
life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
GOSPEL. Luke li. 15, 20. At that time: The
shepherds said one to another : Let us go over to Beth-
lehem, and let us see this word that has come to pass
which the Lord hath showed to us. And they came
with haste : and they found Mary and Joseph, and the
infant lying in a manger. And seeing, they under-
stood of the word that had been spoken to them con-
cerning this child. And all that heard wondered : and
at those things that were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her
heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God, for all the things they had heard and
seen, as it was told unto them. Credo.
THIRD MASS. IN THE DAY TIME.
EPISTLE. Heh. i. 1, 12. God, who at sundry
times, and in divers manners spoke in times past to the
fathers by the prophets, last of all, in these days, hath
spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir
of all things, by whom also he made the world : who
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CHRISTMAS DAT.
being the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his
substance, ana upholding all things by the word of his
power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right
nand of the majesty on high : being made so much
better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more ex-
cellent name than they. For to which of the angels
hath he said at any time, “ Thou art my Son, to-day
have I be-gotten thee ?” And again: “ I will be to
him a father, and he shall be to me a Son ?” And
again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the
world, he saith : “ And let all the angels of God adore
him.,, And to the angels indeed he saith : “He that
maketh his angels spirits : and his ministers a flame
of fire.” But to the Son : “ Thy throne, O God, is
for ever and ever : a sceptre of iustice is the sceptre of
thy kingdom. Thou hast loved justice and hated ini-
quity : therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” And :
“ Thou, in the beginning, O Lora, didst found the
earth : and the works of thy hands are the heavens.
They shall perish, but thou shalt continue : and they
shall all grow old as a garment. And as a vesture
shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed :
but thou art the self-same and thy years shall not
fail.”
GOSPEL. John i. 14. In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him, and without him was
made nothing that was made. In him was life, and
the life was the light of men ; and the light shineth in
darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was
John. This man came for a witness, to give testi-
mony of the light, that all men might believe through
him. He was not the light, but Was to give testimony
of the light. That was the true light which enlighten-
eth every man that cometh into this world. He was
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SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE. 395
in the world, and the world was made by hhn, and
the world knew him not. He came unto his own,
and his own received him not. But as many as re-
ceived him, to them he gave power to be made the
sons of God ; to them that believe in his name, who
are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God. And the word was
made flesh, and dwelt among us ; and we saw his
glory, as it were the glory of the only begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth.
SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF
CHRISTMAS.
EPISTLE. Gal, iv. 1, 7. Brethren: As long as
the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant,
though he be Lord of all : but i9 under tutors and
governors, until the time appointed by the father. So
we also, when we were children, were serving under
the elements of the world. But when the fulness of
the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a wo-
man, made under the law : that he might redeem them
who were under the law ; that we might receive the
adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God hath
sent the Spirit of hi9 Son into your hearts, crying :
Abba, Father. Therefore now he is not a servant, but
a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 83, 40. At that time: Joseph,
and Mary the mother of J esus, were Wondering at
those things which were spoken concerning him. And
Simon blessed them, and said to Mary bis mother : Be-
hold the child is set for the fall, ana for the resurrec-
tion of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be
contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce,
that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealea. And
there was one Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Pha-
nuel, of the tribe of Asar ; she was far advanced in
years, and had lived with her husband seven years from
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THE EPIPHANY.
396
her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore
and four years ; who departed not from the temple, by
fastings and prayers serving day and night. Now she
at the same hour coming in, confessed to the Lord ;
and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption
of Israel. And after they had performed all tnings
according to the law of the Lord, they returned into
Galilee, to their city Nazareth. And the child grew
and waxed strong, full of wisdom ; and the grace of
God was in him.
THE CIRCUMCISION.
EPISTLE. Tit . ii. 11, 15. Dearly beloved: The
grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men.
Instructing us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly
desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly,
in this world, looking for the blessed hope, and coming
of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ: who gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a
people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These
things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.
Let no man despise thee.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 21. At that time: After eight
days were accomplished that the child should be cir-
cumcised, his name was called Jesus, which was called
by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.
Credo.
THE EPIPHANY.
LESSON. Isaiae lx. 1, 9. Arise, be enlightened,
O Jerusalem ; for thy light is come, and the glory of
the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold darkness snail
coyer the earth, and a mist the people : but the Lord
shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon
thee. And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and
kings in the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thy eyes
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THE EPIPHANY.
397
round about and see : all these are gathered together,
thev are come to thee ; thy sons shall come from afar,
and thy daughters shall rise up at thy side. Then shalt
thou see and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and
be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be
converted to thee, the strength of the Gentiles shall
come to thee. The multitude of camels shall cover
thee, the dromedaries of Madian and Epha: all they
from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankin-
cense, and showing forth praise to the Lord.
GOSPEL. Matt . ii. 1, 12. When Jesus was born
in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, be-
hold there came wise men from the east, to Jerusalem,
Baying: ‘‘Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to
adore him.” And Herod hearing this was troubled,
and all J erusalem with him . An d assembling together
adl the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he
inquired of tnem where Christ should be born. But
they said to him, “ In Bethlehem of J uda.” For so it is
written by the prophet : “And thou, Bethlehem, in the
land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of
Juda ; for out of thee shall come forth the captain that
shall rule my people Israel.” Then Herod privately
calling the wise men, learned diligently of them the
time of the star which appeared to them ; and sending
them into Bethlehem, said: “Go, and diligently in-
quire after the child ; and when you have found him,
bring me word again, that I also may come and adore
him.” Who, having heard the king, went their way ;
and behold the star which they had seen in the east
went before them, until it came and stood over where
the child was. And seeing the star, they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy. And entering into the nouse, they
found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down
they adored him ; and opening their treasures, they
offered him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And
having received an answer in sleep that they should not
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398 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
return to Herod, they went back another way into their
own country. Credo.
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
EPISTLE. Rom. xii. 1, 5. Brethren: I beseech
you, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your rea-
sonable service. And be not conformed to this world:
but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you
may prove what i9 the good, and the acceptable, and
the perfect will of God. For I say, by the grace that is
given me, to all that are among you, not to be more
wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto
sobriety, and according as God hath divided to every
one the measure of faith. For as in one body we have
many members, but all the members have not the same
office; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and
every one members of one another, in Jesus Christ our
Lord.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 42, 52. When Jesus was twelve
years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the
custom of the feast. And having fulfilled the days,
when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jeru-
salem, and his parents knew it not. And thinking that
he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and
sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.
And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem
seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days
they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of
the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions.
And all that heard him were astonished at hi9 wisdom
and his answers. And seeing him they wondered.
And his mother said to him : Son, why hast thou done
so to us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee
sorrowing. And he said to them: How is it that you
sought me? Did you not know that I must be about
my Father’s business? And they understood not the
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SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 399
word that he spoke unto them. And he went down
with them, ana came to Nazareth; and was subject to
them. And his mother kept all those words in her
heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and
grace with God and men. Credo.
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
LESSON. Acts iv. 8, 12. In those days : Peter
being filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them : Ye
princes of the people and ancients, hear : If we this
day are examined concerning the good deed done to
the infirm man, by what means he hath been made
whole, be it known to you all, and to all the people of
Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised
from the dead, even by him this man standeth here be-
fore you whole. “This is the stone which was rejected
by you the builders, which is become the head of the
corner neither is there salvation in any other. For
there is no other name under heaven given to men
whereby we must be saved.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 33, 40. At that time: Joseph,
and Mary the mother of Jesus, were wondering at
those things which were spoken concerning him. And
Simon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Be-
hold the child is set for the fall, and for the resurrec-
tion of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be
contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce,
that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed. And
there was one Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Pha-
nuel, of the tribe of Asar ; she was far advanced in
years, and had lived with her husband seven years from
her virginity. And she wras a widow until fourscore
and four years ; who departed not from the temple, by
fastings and prayers serving day and night. Now she
at the same nour coming in, confessed to the Lord;
and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption
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400 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
of Israel. And after they had performed all things
according to the law of the Lora, they returned into
Galilee, to their city Nazareth. And the child grew
and waxed strong, full of wisdom ; and the grace of
God was in him.
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
EPISTLE. Rom. xii. 16. Brethren: Be not wise
in your own conceits. To no man rendering evil for
evil. Providing good things not only in the sight of
God, but also in the sight of all men. If it be pos-
sible, as much as in you, having peace with all men.
Not revenging yourselves, my dearly beloved, but give
place unto wrath. For it is written : “ Revenge to me,
I will repay,” saith the Lord. But “ if thy enemy be
hungry, give him to eat : if he thirst, give him to
drink : for doing this, thou shalt heap coals of tire on
his head. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome
evil by good.”
GOSPEL. Matt. viii. 1, 13. At that time: When
Jesus was come down from the mountain, great multi-
tudes followed him ; and behold a leper came and
adored him, saying : Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean. And Jesu9 stretching forth his hand,
touched him, saying : I will, be thou made clean. And
forthwith his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith
to him : See thou tell no man, but go show thyself to
the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded
for a testimony unto them. * And when he had entered
into Capharnaum, there came to him a centurion, be-
seeching him, and saying : Lord, my servant lieth at
home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented.
And Jesus saith to him : I will come and heal him.
And the centurion making answer, said : Lord, I am
not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof ; but
only say the word, and my servant shall be hetded.
For I also am a man under authority, having under me
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FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 401
soldiers ; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to
another, Come, and he cometh, and to my servant,
Do this, and he doeth it. And when Jesus heard this,
he marvelled, and said to them that followed him :
Amen, I say to you, I have not found so great faith in
Israel. And I say unto you, that many shall come
from the east and the west, and shall sit down with
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of
heaven ; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast
out into the exterior darkness : there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the cen-
turion : Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done
to thee. And the servant was healed at the same
hour. Credo.
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
EPISTLE. Rom. xiii. 8, 10. Brethren : Owe no
man any thing, but to love one another ; for he that
loveth nis neighbour, hath fulfilled the law. For
“ Thou shalt not commit adultery : Thou shalt not
kill : Thou shalt not steal : Thou shalt not bear false
witness : Thou shalt not covet:” and if there be any
other commandment, it is comprised in this word :
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” The
love of our neighbour worketh no evil. Love, there-
fore, is the fulfilling of the law.
GOSPEL. Matt. viii. 23, 27. At that time : When
Jesus entered into a boat his disciples followed him ;
and behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that
the ship was covered with waves ; but he was asleep.
And his disciples came to him, and awakened him,
saying: Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus saith
to them : Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith ?
Then rising up, he commanded the winds and the sea,
and there came a great calm. But the men wondered,
saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds
and the sea obey him ? Credo.
2 l 2
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FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
EPISTLE. Coloss. iii. 12, 17. Brethren : Put ye
on therefore as the elect of God, holy, and beloved,
the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty,
patience; bearing with one another, ana forgiving
one another, if any have a, complaint against another.
Even as the Lord' hath forgiven you, so you also. But
above all these things have charity, which is the bond
of perfection ; and let the peace of Christ rejoice in
your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body ;
and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in
you abundantly, in all wisdom ; teaching and admo-
nishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual
canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. All
whatsoever you do m word or in work, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God
and the Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
GOSPEL. Matt. xiii. 24, 30. At that time : Jesus
spoke this parable to the multitude, saying: The
kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed
good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his
enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wneat,
and went his way. And when the blade was sprung
up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared also the
cockle. Then the servants of the good man of the house
came and said to him : Sir, didst thou not sow good
seed in thy field ? from whence then hath it cockle ?
And he said to them : An enemy hath done this. And
the servants said to him : Wilt thou that we go and
gather it up? And he said : No, lest while you gather
up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together
with it. Let both grow until the harvest, and m the
time of the harvest I will say to the reapers : Gather
up first the cockle, and bind it in bundles to burn,
but gather the wheat into my barn.
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SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 403
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.
EPISTLE. 1 Thess . i. 2, 10. Brethren : We give
thanks to God always for you all ; making a remem-
brance of you in our prayers without ceasing ; being
mindful of you in the work of your faith, and hope, and
charity, and of the enduring of the hope of our lord
Jesus Christ, before God and our Father ; knowing,
brethren beloved of God, your election. For our gospel
hath not been to you in word only, but in power also,
and in the Holy Ghost, and in much fulness, as you
know what manner of men we have been among you
for your sakes. And you became followers of us, and
of tne Lord, receiving the word in much tribulation,
with joy of the Holy Ghost ; so that you were made a
pattern to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord,
not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but also in every
place your faith, which is towards God, is gone forth,
so that we need not to speak any thing. For they
themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in
we had unto you ; and how you turned to God from
idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait
for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the
dead) Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to
come.
GOSPEL. Matt . xiii, 31, 35. At that time : Jesus
spoke to the multitude this parable : The kingdom of
heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed, which a man
took and sowed in his field. Which indeed is the least
of all seeds ; but when it is grown up, it is greater
than all herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds
of the air come and dwell in the branches thereof.
Another parable he spoke to them : The kingdom of
heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid
in three measures of meal, until the whole was lea-
vened. All these things Jesus spoke in parables to
the multitudes, and witnout parables he did not speak
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8EPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
to them ; that the word might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the prophet, saying : “ I will open my
mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from
the foundation of the world.” Credo.
If there be not VI. Sundays between the Ephiphany and Septuage-
8iw&, what remain are omitted, and taken in between the XXllI. and
the last Sunday after Pentecost.
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
EPISTLE, i Cor . ix. 24, and x. 1. Brethren:
Know you not that they that run in the race, all run
indeed, but one receiveth the prize ? So run that you
may obtain. And every one that striveth for the
mastery, refraineth himself from all things ; and they
indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown, but
we an incorruptible one. I therefore so run, not as an
uncertainty : I so fight, not as one beating the air : but
I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection : lest
perhaps when I have preached to others, I mvself
shoula become a castaway. [Chap. x. I, 6.] For I
would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fa-
thers were all under the cloud, and all passed through
the sea. And all in Moses were baptized in the cloud,
and in the sea ; and did all eat the same spiritual food :
and all drank the same spiritual drink: (and they
drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, and
the rock was Christ.) But with the most of them
God was not well pleased.
GOSPEL. Matt . xx. 1, 10. At that time: Jesus
spoke to his disciples this parable : The kingdom of
heaven is like to a householder who went out early in
the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And
when having agreed with the labourers for a penny a
day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out
about the third hour, he saw others standing in the
market place idle. And he said to them : Go you also
into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be
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$EXAGES1MA SUNDAY. 405
just. And they went their way. And again he went
out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did iu like
manner. But about the eleventh hour he went out and
found others standing, and he saith to them : Why
stand you here all the day idle ? They say to him :
Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them : Go
you also into my vineyard. And when evening was
come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward : Call
the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from
the last even to the nrst. When therefore they were
come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received
every man A penny. But when the first also came, they
thought that they should have received more : and they
also received every man a penny. And receiving it
they murmured against the master of the house, saying:
These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast
made them equal to us that have borne the burden of
the day, and the heats. But he answering said to one
of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong : didst thou not
agree with me for a penny ? Take what is thine and
go thy way : I will also give to this last even as to
thee. Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will ?
Is thy eye evil, because I am good ? So shall the last
be first, and the first last. For many are called, but
few chosen. Credo.
SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY.
EPISTLE. 2 Cor . xi. 19, 33. Brethren : You
gladly suffer the foolish : whereas yourselves are wise.
For you suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a
man devour you , if a man take from you , if a man be
lifted up, if a man strike you on the face. I sneak ac-
cording to dishonour, as if we had been weak in this
part. Wherein if any man dare (I speak foolishly) I
dare also. They are Hebrews: so ami. They are
Israelites : so am 1. They are the seed of Abraham :
so am I. They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as
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BEXAGE8IMA SUNDAY.
one less wise) I «m more : in many more labours, in
prisons more frequently, in stripes above measure, in
deaths often. Or the Jews five times did I receive
forty stripes, save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods,
once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck ; a night
and a day I was in the depth of the sea. In journey-
ing often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, m
perils from my own nation, in perils from the Gentiles,
m perils in tne city, in perils in the wilderness, in
penis in the sea, in perils from false brethren. In la-
bour and painfulness, in much watchings, in hunger
and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Besides these things which are without ; my daily in-
stance, the solicitude for all the churches. Who is
weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalized, and
I am not on fire? If I must needs glory, I will glory
of the things that concern my infirmity. The God ana
Father of our Lord J esus Christ, who is blessed for
ever, knoweth that I lie not. At Damascus the gover-
nor of the nation under Aretas the king, guarded the
city of the Damascenes, to apprehend me ; and through
a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and
so escaped his hands. [CJiap. xii. 1. j If I must glory,
(it is not expedient indeed,) but I will come to tne vi-
sions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in
Christ about fourteen years ago, (whether in the body,
I know not, or out of the body, I know not, God know-
eth,) such a one rapt even to the third heaven. And I
know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell, God knoweth) how he was caught
up into paradise, and heard secret words, which is not
granted ter man to utter. For such a one I will glory ;
but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmi-
ties. For though I should have a mind to glory, I
shall not be foolish : for I will say the truth. But I
forbare, lest any man should think of me above that
which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.
And lest the greatness of the revelations should lift
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SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY.
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me up, there was given me a string of my flesh, an
angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thing I thrice
besought the Lord, that it might depart from me: and
he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for
power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly, therefore,
will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ
may dwell in me.
GOSPEL. Luke viii. 4, 10. At that time: When
a very great multitude was gathered together, and
hastened out of the cities to meet Jesus, he spoke by a
similitude. A sower went out to sow his seed ; and as
he sowed, some fell by the way-side, and it was trodden
down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And other
some fell upon a rock ; and as soon as it was sprung
up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And
other some fell among thorns ; and the thorns growing
up with it, choked it. And other some fell upon good
ground, and sprung up, and yielded fruit a hundred-
fold. Saying these things he cried out: He that hath
ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked
him what this parable might be. To whom he said :
To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom
of God ; but to the rest in parables : that seeing they
may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
And they by the way-side, are they that hear ; then the
devil cometn, and taketh the word out of their hearts,
lest believing they should be saved. Now they upon
the rock are they, who, when they hear, receive the word
with joy ; and these have no roots ; for they believe for a
while, and in time of temptation fall away. And that
which fell among thorns, are they who have heard, and
going their way, are choked with the cares and the
riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit.
But that on the good ground, are they, who in a good
and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring
forth fruit in patience.
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408 QUINQUAGE81MA SUNDAY.
QU1NQUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
EPISTLE. I Cor . xiii. 1, 13. Brethren: If I speak
with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling
cymbal. And if I should have prophecy, and should
know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should
have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and
have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should dis-
tribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should
deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing. Charity is patient, is kind.
Charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely ; it is not
puffed up, it is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, ia
not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil, reioiceth not
in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all
things,- believeth aU things, hopeth all things, endureth
all things. Charity never falleth away ; whether pro-
phecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or
knowledge shall be destroyed. For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part ; but when that which is per-
fect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood
as a child, I thought as a child ; but when I became a
man, I put away the things of a child. We now see
through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to
face. Now I know in part ; but then I shall know
even as I am known. And now there remain faith,
hope, charity, these three ; but the greatest of these
is charity,
GOSPEL. Luke xviii. 81, 43. At that time : Je-
sus took unto him the twelve, and said to them: Be-
hold we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be
accomplished which were written by the prophets con-
cerning the Son of Man. For he shall be delivered to
the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and scourged, and
spit upon ; and after they have scourged him, tney wiH
put him to death, and the third day he shall rise again.
And they understood none of these things. And this
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409
word was hid from them, and they understood not the
things that were said. Now it came to pass, that when
he drew nigh to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by
the way-side, begging. And when he heard the mul-
titude passing by, he asked what this meant. And they
told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And
he cried out: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
And they that went before, rebuked him, that he should
hold his peace. But he cried out much more : Son of
David, have mercy on me. And Jesus, standing, com-
manded him to be brought unto him. And when he
was come near, he asked him, saying: What wilt thou
that I do to thee? But he said : Lord, that I may see.
And Jesus said to him: Receive thy sight; thy faith
hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and
followed him, glorifying God. And all the people,
when they saw it, gave praise to God. Credo.
ASH-WEDNESDAY.
LESSON. Joel ii. 12, 19. Thus saith the Lord :
Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, in
weeping, and in mourning. And rend your hearts,
and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your
God ; for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich
in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. Who know-
eth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a bless-
ing behind him; sacrifice and libation to the Lord
your God ? Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast,
call a solemn assembly, gather together the people,
sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather
together the little ones, and them that suck at the
breasts : let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and
the bride out of the bride-chamber. Between the
porch and the altar, the priests, the Lord’s ministers,
shall weep, and shall say : Spare, O Lord, spare thy
people ; and give not thine inheritance to reproach,
that the heathens should rule over them. Why should
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FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT.
they say among the nations : Where is their God ?
The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath
spared his people. And the Lord answered and said
to his people: Behold I will send you corn, and
wine, and oil ; you shall be filled with them, and I
will no more make you a reproach among the na-
tions, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Matt . vi. 16, 21. At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : When you fa9t, be not, as the
hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that
they may appear to men to fast. Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward. But thou, when thou
fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face, that thou
appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father, who is in
secret ; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, will re-
ward thee. Lay not up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where the rust and moth consume, and where
thieves break through and steal ; but lay up for your-
selves treasures in heaven, where neither rust nor
moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break
through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there
is thy heart also.
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT.
EPISTLE. 2 Cor . vi. 1, 10. Brethren : We ex-
hort you, that you receive not the grace of God in vain.
For he saith : “In an acceptable time have I heard
thee ; and in the day of salvation have I helped thee.”
Behold, now is the acceptable time : behold, now is the
day of salvation. Giving no offence to any man, that
our ministry be not blamed : but in all things let us
exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much pa-
tience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, in
stripes, in prison, in seditions, in labours, in watchings,
in tastings, in chastity, in knowledge, in long-suffer-
ing, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity un-
feigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God ; by
the armour of justice on the right hand, and on the
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left : by honour, and dishonour : by evil report, and
good report : as deceivers, and yet true : as unknown,
and yet known : as dving, and behold we live : as
chastised, and not killed : as sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing : as needy, yet enriching many : as having
nothing, and possessing all things.
GOSPEL. Matt . iv. 1, 11. At that time: Jesus
was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by
the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and
forty nights, he was afterwards hungry. And the
tempter coming, said to him. If thou be the Son of
God, command that these stones be made bread. But
he answered and said : It is written, “ Not by bread
alone doth man live, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God. Then the devil took him
into the holy city, and set him upon a pinnacle of the
temple, and said to him : If thou be the Son of God,
east thyself down ; for it is written, “ He hath given
his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall
they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot
against a stone.” Jesus said to him: It is written
again, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Again the devil took him up into a very high moun-
tain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world,
and the glory of them, and said to him : All these
will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and adore me.
Then Jesus said to him : Begone, Satan ; for it is
written, “The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and
him only shalt thou serve.” Then the devil left him ;
and behold angels came and ministered to him. —
Credo.
SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT.
EPISTLE. 1 These, iv. 1, 7. Brethren : We pray
and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have
received of us, how you ought to walk and to please
God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the
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THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT.
more. For you know what precepts I have given to
you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God,
your sanctification ; that you should abstain from for-
nication, that every one of you should know how to
possess his vessel in sanctification and honour, not in
the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not
God ; and that no man over-reach nor circumvent his
brother in business ; because the Lord is the avenger
of all these things, as we have told you before, and
have testified. For God hath not called us unto un-
cleanness, but unto sanctification.
GOSPEL. Matt . xvii. 1, 9. At that time: Jesus
taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his bro-
ther, and bringeth them up into a high mountain
apart : and he was transfigured before them. And his
face did shine as the sun : and his garments became
white as snow. And behold there appeared to them
Moses and Elia9 talking with him. Then Peter an-
swering, said to Jesus : Lord, it is good for us to be
here : n thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles,
one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud
overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud,
saying : This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased ; hear ye him. And the disciples hearing, fell
upon their face, and were very much afraid. And
Jesus came and touched them, and said unto them :
Arise, and be not afraid. And when they lifted up
their eyes, they saw no one, but only Jesus. And as
they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged
them, saying : Tell the vision to no man, till the Son
of man shall be risen from the dead. Credo.
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT.
EPISTLE. Ephes . v. 1, 9. Brethren: Be ye
therefore followers of God, as most dear children ; and
walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and hath de-
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THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT.
413
livered himself for 119, an oblation and a sacrifice to
God, for an odour of sweetness. But fornication, and
all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as
be named among you, as becometh saints ; or obscenity,
or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no pur-
pose : but rather giving of thanks. For know ye this,
and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean or covet-
ous person, (which is serving of idols,! hath inherit-
ance in the kingdom of Christ and or God. Let no
man deceive you with vain words. For because of
these things cometh the anger of God upon the children
of unbelief. Be ye not therefore partakers with them.
For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the
Lord. Walk ye as children of the light. For the fruit
of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth.
GOSPEL. Luke xi. 14, 28. At that time: Jesus
was casting out a devil, and the same was dumb ; and
when he had cast out the devil, the dumb spoke, and
the multitude were in admiration at it. But some of
them said : He casteth out devils, by Belzebub, the
prince of devils. And others, tempting, asked of him a
sign from heaven. But he seeing their thoughts, said
to them: Everv kingdom divided against itself, shall
be brought to desolation, and house upon house shall
fall. And if Satan also be divided against himself, how
shall his kingdom stand ? because you say, that through
Belzebub I cast out devils. Now, if I cast out devils by
Belzebub, by whom do your children cast them out ?
Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I by the
finger of God cast out devils, doubtless the kingdom
of God i9 come upon you. When a strong man armed
keepeth his court, those things are in peace which he
possesseth. But if a stronger than he come upon him,
and overcome him, he will take away all his armour
wherein he trusted, and will distribute his spoils. He
that is not with me is against me : and be that gather-
eth not with me, scattereth. When the unclean spirit
is gone out of a man, he walketh through places with-
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414 FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT.
out water, Seeking rest ; and not finding, he saith : a
will return into my house whence I came out. And
w'hen he is come, he 6ndeth it swept and garnished.
Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits
more wicaed than himself, and entering in they dwell
there ; and the last state of that man becometh worse
than the first. Andit came to pass, as he spoke these
things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her
voice, said to him : Blessed is the womb that bore thee,
and the paps that gave thee suck. But he said : Yea
rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God,
and keep it. Credo.
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT.
EPISTLE. Gal. iv. 22, 31. Brethren: It is writ-
ten that Abraham had two sons ; the one by a bond-
woman, and the other by a free-woman. But he who
was of the bond -woman, was born according to the
flesh ; but he by the free-woman, was by promise.
Which things are said by an allegory. For these are
the two testaments. The one from Mount Sina, en-
gendering unto bondage, which is Agar ; for Sina is a
mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusa-
lem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free; which is
our mother. For it is written : Rejoice, thou barren,
that bearest not ; break forth and cry, thou that travail-
est not ; for many are the children of the desolate, more
than of her that hath a husband. Now we, brethren,
as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then,
he that was born according to the flesh, persecuted
him that was after the spirit, so also it is now. But
what saith the scripture ? Cast out the bond-woman
and her son ; for the son of the bond -woman shall not
be heir with the son of the free-woman. So then,
brethren, we are not children of the bond- woman, but
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FOURTH 8UNDAY IN LENT. 415
of the free ; by the freedom wherewith Christ hath
made us free.
GOSPEL. Johnv i. 1, 15. At that time: Jesus went
over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias ; and
a great multitude followed him, because they saw the
miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
Jesus therefore went up into a mountain, and there he
sat with his disciples. Now the pasch, the festival
day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus
therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very
great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip :
Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat ? And
this he said to try him, for he himself knew what he
would do. Philip answered him : Two hundred penny-
worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one
may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the
brother of Simon Peter, saith to him : There is a boy
here that hath five barley loaves, and two fishes ; but
what are they among so many ? Then Jesus said :
Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass
in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number
about nve thousand. And Jesus took the loaves ; and
when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that
were sat down. In like manner also of the fishes, as
much as they would ; and when they were filled, he
said to his disciples : Gather up the fragments that
remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore,
and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five
barley loaves, which remained over and above to them
that had eaten. Now these men, when they had seen
what a miracle Jesus had done, said : This is of a truth
the prophet that is to come into the world. Jesus
therefore, when he knew that they would come to take
him by force and make him king, fled again into the
mountain himself alone. Credo.
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PASSION SUNDAY.
PASSION SUNDAY.
EPISTLE. Heb. ix. 11, 15. Brethren: Christ
being come, an high priest of the good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with
hands, that is, not of this creatjpn, neither by the
blood of goats or of calves, but by his own blood, en-
tered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal
redemption. For if the blood of goats and of oxen,
and the ashes of an heifer being sprinkled, sanctify
such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh ; how
much more shall the blood of Christ (who by the Holy
Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God) cleanse our
conscience from dead works to serve the living God ?
And therefore he is the mediator of the New Testa-
ment ; that by means of his death, for the redemption
of those transgressions which were under the former
testament, thev that are called may receive the pro-
mise of eternal inheritance.
GOSPEL. John viii. 40, 59. At that time: Jesus
said to the multitude of the Jews : Which of you shall
convince me of sin ? If I say the truth to you, why do
you not believe me? He that is of God, heareth the
words of God. Therefore you hear them not, because
you are not of God. The Jews therefore answered and
said to him : Do we not say well that thou art a Sama-
ritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered: I have not
a devil ; but I honour my Father, and you have dis-
honoured me. But I seek not my own glory: there is
one that seeketh and judgeth. Amen, amen, I say to
you: If any man keep my word, he shall not see death
For ever. The Jews therefore said: Now we know
that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the
prophets; and thou sayest: If any man keep my
word, he shall not taste death for ever. Art thou
greater than our father Abraham, who is dead ? And
the prophets are dead. Whom dost thou make thyself?
Jesus answered: If I glorify myself, my glory is
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PALM SUNDAY.
417
nothing. It is my Father that glorifieth me, of whom
you say that he is your God ; and you have not known
him, but I know him. And if I should say that I
know him not, I should be like to you, a liar. But I
do know him, and do keep his word. Abraham your
father rejoiced that he might see ray day : he saw it,
and was glad. The Jews then said to him : Thou art
not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham ?
Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you, Be-
fore Abraham was made, l am. They took up stoues
therefore to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and
went out of the temple.
PALM SUNDAY.
EPISTLE. Philip • ii. 5, 11. Brethren: Let this
mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus ; who
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
eaual with God, but emptied himself, taking the form
or a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and
in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, be-
coming obedient unto death, even to the death of the
cross. For which cause God also hath exalted him,
and hath given him a name which is above all names;
that in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of
those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
And that every tongue should confess that the Lord
Jesus Christ is in the glory of the Father.
GOSPEL. The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ,
according to Matt. xxvi. and xxvii. At that time:
Jesus said to his disciples: You know that after two
days shall be the pasch, and the Son of man shall be
delivered up to be crucified. Then were gathered to-
gether the chief priests and ancients of the people into
the court of the high-priest, who was called Caiphas ;
and they consulted together, that by subtilty they
might apprehend Jesus, and put him to death. But
they said : Not on the festival day, lest perhaps there
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PALM SUNDAY.
should be a tumult amongst the people. And when
Jesus was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper,
there came to him a woman having an alabaster-box of
precious ointment, and poured it on his head as he was
at table. And the disciples seeing it, had indignation,
saying: To what purpose is this waste? For this
might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
And Jesus knowing it, said to them : Why do you trou-
ble this woman? For she has wrought a good work
upon me. For the poor you have always with you, but
me you have not always. For she, m pouring this
ointment upon my body, hath done it for my burial.
Amen, I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be
preached in the whole world, that also which she hath
done, shall be told for a memory of her. Then went
one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the
chief priests, and said to them : What will you give
me, and I will deliver him unto you? But they ap-
pointed him thirty pieces of silver. And from thence-
iorth he sought an opportunity to betray him. And
on the first day of the Azymes the disciples came to
Jesus, saying: Where wilt thou that we prepare for
thee to eat the pasch? But Jesus said : Go ye into the
city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Master
saith, My time is near at hand. I will keep the pasch
at thy house with my disciples.,, And the disciples
did as Jesus appointed to them, and they prepared the
Easch. Now when it was evening, he sat down with
is twelve disciples ; and whilst they were eating, he
said : Amen, I say to you, that one of you is about to
betray me. And they being very much troubled, began
every one to say: Is it I, Lord? But he answering
said : He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish,
he shall betray me. The Son of man indeed goeth, as
it is written of him ; but woe to that man, by whom
the Son of man shall be betrayed. It were better for
him, if that man had not been born. And Judas, that
betrayed him, answering said : Is it I, Rabbi? He
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419
saith to him : Thou hast said it. And whilst they were
at supper, Je9us took bread, and blessed, and broke :
and gave to his disciples, and said : Take ye, and eat:
This is my body. And taking the chalice he gave
thanks, ana gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this:
for this is my blood of the New Testament, which shall
be shed for many for the remission of sins. And I
say to you, I will not drink from henceforth of this
fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it
new with you in the kingdom of my Father. And a
hymn being said, they went out into mount Olivet.
Then Jesus said to them: All you shall be scandalized
in me this night. For it is written : “ I will strike the
shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed.”
But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you
into Galilee. And Peter answering, said to him : Al-
though all shall be scandalized in thee, I will never be
scandalized. Jesus said to him : Amen, I say to thee,
that in this night, before the cock crow, thou wilt deny
me thrice. Peter saith to him : Yea, though I should
die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like man-
ner said all the disciples. Then Jesus came with them
into a country place which is called Gethsemani ; and
he said to his disciples : Sit you here, till I go yonder,
and pray. And taking with him Peter and the two
sons of Zebedee, he began to grow sorrowful, and to
be sad. Then he saith to them : My soul is sorrowful
even unto death ; stay you here and watch with me.
And going a little further he fell upon his face, pray-
ing, and saying: My Father, if it be possible, let this
chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but
as thou wilt. And he cometh to his disciples and
findeth them asleep, and he said to Peter: What!
could you not Watch one hour with me? Watch ye, and
pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again the
second time he went and prayed, saying: My Father, if
this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, thy
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will be done. And he cometh again, and findefh them
sleeping; for their eyes were heavy. And leaving
them, he went again ; and he prayed the third time,
saying the 9elf-same words. Then he cometh to his
disciples, and saith to them : Sleep ye now, and take
your rest: behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of
man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise,
let us go : behold he is at hand that will betray me.
As he yet spoke, behold Judas, one of the twelve, came,
and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs,
sent from the chief priests and the ancients of the peo-
ple. And he that betrayed him, gave them a sign,
saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he, hold him
fast. And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said: Hail,
Rabbi; and he kissed him. And Jesus said to him:
Friend, whereto art thou come? Then they came up,
and laid hands on Jesus, and held him. And behold
one of them that were with Jesus, stretching forth his
hand, drew out his sword ; and striking the servant
of the high-priest, cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to
him : Put up again thy sword into its place ; for all
that take the sword, shall perish with the sword. Think-
est thou that I cannot ask my Father, and he will give
me presently more than twelve legions of angels? How
then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be
done? In that same hour Jesus said to the multi-
tude : You are come out as it were to a robber, with
swords and clubs, to apprehend me. I sat daily with
you teaching in the temple, and you laid not hands on
me. Now all this was done, that the Scriptures of the
prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all leav-
ing nim, fled. But they holding Jesus, led him to Cai-
piias the high-priest, where the scribes and the ancients
were assembled. And Peter followed him afar off, even
to the court of the high-priest; and going in, he sat
with the servants, that he might see the end. And the
chief priests and the whole council sought false witness
against Jesus, that they might put him to death; and
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they found not, whereas many false witnesses had come
in. And last of all there came two false witnesses ; and
they said : This man said, I am able to destroy the tem-
ple of God, and after three days to rebuild it. And the
nigh-priest rising up, said to nim : Answerest thou no-
thing to the things which these witness against thee?
But J esus held his peace. And the high-priest said to
him : I adjure thee, by the living God, that thou tell us
if thou be the Christ the Son of God. Jesus saith to
him : Thou hast said it. Nevertheless I say to you.
Hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the
right hand of the power of God, and coming in the
clouds of heaven. Then the high-priest rent his gar-
ments, saying : He hath blasphemed, what further need
have we of witnesses ? Behold, now you have heard
the blasphemy : what think you? But they answering,
said : He is guilty of death. Then did they spit m
his face, and buffet him, and others struck his face
with the palms of their hands, saying : Prophesy unto
us, O Christ, who is he that struck thee? Hut Peter
sat without in the court ; and there came to him a
servant-maid, saying : Thou also wast with Jesus the
Galilean. But he denied before them all, saying: I
know not what thou sayest. And as he went out of
the gate, another maid saw him, and she saith to them
that were there : This man also was with Jrsus of
Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath : That
I know not the man. And after a little while they
came that stood by, and said to Peter : Surely thou
also art one of them ; for even thy speech, doth dis-
cover thee. Then he began to curse and swear that he
knew not the man. Ana immediately the cock crew.
And Peter remembered the words of Jesus which he
had said : Before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me
thrice. And going forth, he wept bitterly. And
when morning was come, all the chief priests and
ancients of the people took council against Jesus, that
they might put him to death. And thev brought him
2 N
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PALM BUNIXAT.
bound, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the gover-
nor. Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that he
was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the
thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients,
saying: I have sinned, in betraying innocent blood.
But they said : What is that to us ? look thou to it.
And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple,
he departed, and went and hanged himself with a
halter. But the chief priests having taken the pieces
of silver, said : It is not lawful to put them into the
corbona, because it is the price of blood. And after
they had consulted together, they bought with them
the potter’s field, to be a burying-place for strangers.
For this cause that field was called Haceldama, that is,
the field of blood, even to this day. Then was ful-
filled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet,
saying : “ And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the
price of him that was prized, whom they prized of the
children of Israel. And they gave them unto the
potter’s field, as the Lord appointed to me.” And
Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor
asked him, saying : Art thou the king of the Jews ?
Jesus saith to him : Thou sayest it. And when he
was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he an-
swered nothing. Then Pilate saith to him : Dost thou
not hear how great testimonies they allege against
thee ? And he answered him to never a word ; so that
the governor wondered exceedingly. Now upon the
solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to
the people one prisoner, whom they would. And he
had then a notorious prisoner, that was called Barabbas.
They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said :
Whom will you that I release to you ? Barabbas, or
Jesus that is called Christ? For he knew that for
envv they had delivered him. And as he was sitting
in the place of judgment, his wife sent to him, saying:
Have thou nothing to do with that just man. For I
have suffered many things this day in a dream because
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423
of him. But the chief priests and ancients persuaded
the people that they should ask Barabbas, and make
Jesus away. And -the governor answering, said to
them : Whether will you of the two to be released unto
you ? But they said, Barabbas. Pilate saith to them :
What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ?
They say all : Let him be crucified. The governor
said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But
they cried out the more, saying : Let him be crucified.
And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that
rather a tumult was made ; taking water he washed his
hands before the people, saving : I am innocent of the
blood of this just man : look, you to it. And the whole
people answering, said : His blood be upon us, and
upon our children. Then he released to them Barab-
bas: and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto
them to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor
taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him
the whole band ; and stripping him, they put a scarlet
cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns,
they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand.
And bowing the knee before him* they mocked him,
6aying : Hail, king of the Jews. And spitting upon
him, they took the reed, and struck his head. And
after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak
from him, and put on his own garments, and led him
away to crucify him. And going out they met a man
of Cyrene named Simon : him they forced to take up
the cross. And they came to the place that is called
Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary. And they
fave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when
e bad tasted, he would not drink. And after they
hod crucified him, they divided his garments, casting
lots : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophet, saying : “ They divided my garments
among them ; and upon my vesture they cast lots :”
and they sat and watched him. And they put over his
bead his cause written : This is Jesus the King of
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PALM SUNDAY.
the Jews. Then were crucified with him two thieves,
one on the right hand, and one on the left And they
that passed by. blasphemed him, wagging their heads,
and saying : Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of
God, and in three days dost rebuild it, save thy own
self : if thou be the Son of God, come down from the
cross. In like manner also the chief priests, with the
scribes and ancients, mocking, said : He saved others ;
himself he cannot save : if he be the king of Israel, let
him now come down from the cross, ana we will be-
lieve him. He trusted in God : let him now deliver
him, if he will have him : for he said : I am the Son
of God. And the self-same thing the thieves also that
were crucified with him, reproached him with. Now
from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole
earth until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour
Jesus cried with a loud voice, saving : Eli, Eli, lamina
sabacthani ? that is, “ My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me V 9 And some that stood there and
heard, said : This man calleth Elias. And immedi-
ately one of them running, took a sponge, and filled it
with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to
drink. And the others said : Let us see whether Elias
will come and deliver him. And Jesus again crying?
with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.* And benold
the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top
even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the
rocks were rent. And the graves were opened ; and
many bodies of the saints that had slept arose ; and
coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came
into the holy city and appeared to many. Now the
centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus,
having seen the earthquake and the things that were
done, were sore afraid, saying : Indeed this was the
Son of God. And there were there many women afipr
off who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering
unto him : among whom was Mary Magdalen, and
• Here all kneel and pause
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Mary the Mother of James and J oseph, and the mother
of the sons of Zebedee. And when it was evening,
there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, named
Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. He
went to Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus. Then
Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered.
And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean
linen cloth, and laid it in his own new monument,
which he had hewn out in a rock. And he rolled a
great stone to the door of the monument, and went his
way. And there was there Mary Magdalen, and the
other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre. And
the next day, which followed the day of preparation,
the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to
Pilate, saying : Sir, we have remembered, that that
seducer said, while he was yet alive : After three days
I will rise again. Command therefore the sepulchre
to be guarded until the third day : lest perhaps his
disciples come and steal him away, and say to the
people he is risen from the dead : and the last error
shall be worse than the first, Pilate said to them :
You have a guard ; go, guard it as you know. And
they departing, made the sepulchre sure, sealing the
stone, and setting guards.
EASTER SUNDAY.
EPISTLE. 1 Cor, v. 7, 8. Brethren: Purge out
the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you
are unleavened. For Christ, our pasch, is sacrificed.
Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven, nor
with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
GOSPEL. Mark xvi. 1, 7. At that time: Mary
Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Salome,
brought sweet spices, that coming they might anoint
Jesus. And very early in the morning the first day of
the week, they come to the sepulchre, the sun being now
*2 n 2
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426
risen. And they said one to another : Who shall roll
os back the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And
looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was
very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw
a young man sitting on the right side clothed with a
wnite robe : and they were astonished. Who saith to
them : Be not affrighted : you seek Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified : he is risen, he is not here, behola
the place where they laid him. But go, tell Ins disci-
ples and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee :
there you shall see him, as he told you. Credo.
QUASIMODO* OR LOW SUNDAY.
EPISTLE. 1 John v. 4, 9. Dearly beloved: What-
soever is born of God, overcometh the world ; and this
is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that be-
lieveth that Jesus is the Son of God ? This is he that
came by water and blood, Jesus Christ : not by water
only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit
which testifieth, that Christ is the truth. And there
are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost And these three are
one. And there are three that give testimony on
earth : the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these
three are one. If we receive the testimony of men,
the testimony of God is greater. For this is the tes-
timony of God which is greater, because he hath tes-
tified of his Son. He that believeth in the Son of
God, hath the testimony of God in himself.
GOSPEL. John xx. 19, 81. At that time: When
it was late that same day, being the first day of the
week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples
were gathered together for fear of the Jews, Jesus
came and stood in the midst, and said to them : Peace
be to you. And when he had said this, he showed them
* hands and his side. The disciples therefore were
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glad when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to
them again : Peace be to you. As the Father hath
sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he
breathed on them ; and he said to them : Receive ye
the Holy Ghost : whose sins you shall forgive, they are
forgiven them ; and whose sins you shall retain, they
are retained. Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is
called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said to him : We have
seen the Lord. But he said to them : Except I shall
see in his hands the print of the nails* and put my
finger into the place of the nails, and Jmt my hands
into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days,
again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them.
Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the
midst, and said : Peace be to you. Then he said to
Thomas : Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands,
and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side ;
and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered,
and said to him : My Lord and my God ! Jesus said to
him : Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast
believed : blessed are they that have not seen, and have
believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight
of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God : and that believing you
may have life in his name. Credo.
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
EPISTLE. 1 Peter ii. 21, 25. Pearly beloved ;
Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that
you should follow his steps. Who did no sin , neither
was guile found in Ms mouth . Who when he was
reviled, dia not revile : when he suffered, he threatened
not : but delivered himself to him that judged him un-
justly : who his own self bore our sins in his body upon
the tree : that we being dead to sins, should live to jus-
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THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
tice : by whose stripes you were healed. For you were
as sheep going astray : but you are now converted to
the shepherd and bishop of your souls.
GOSPEL. Johnx. 11, 16. At that time: Jesus
said to the Pharisees : I am the good shepherd. The
good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the
hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own
the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and le&veth
the sheep, and flieth, and the wolf catcheth, and scat-
tereth the sheep : and the hireling flieth, because he is
a hireling ; and he hath no care for the sheep. I am
the good shepherd : and I know mine, and mine know
me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Fa-
ther : and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other
sheep I have, that are not of this fold : them also I
must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there
shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Credo.
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
EPISTLE. 1 Peter ii. 11, 19. Dearly beloved : I
beseech you as strangers and pilgrims to refrain your-
selves from carnal desires, which war against the soul,
having your conversation good among the Gentiles :
that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they
may, by the good works which they shall behold in you,
glorify God in the day of visitation. Be ye subject
therefore to every human creature for God’s sake : whe-
ther it be to kings as excelling : or to governors as sent
by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the
praise of the good : for so is the will of God, that by
doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of
foolish men : as free, and not as making liberty a cloak
for malice, but as the servants of God. Honour all
men : love the brotherhood : fear God : honour the
king. Servants be subject to your masters with all
fear, not only to the good and *«ntle, but also to the
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FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 429
froward. For this is thanks- worthy in Jesus Christ
our Lord .
GOSPEL. John xvi. 16, 22. At that time : Jesus
said to his disciples : A little while, and now you shall
not see me : ana again a little while, and you shall see
me ; because 1 go to the Father. Then some of his
disciples said one to another : What is it that he saith
to us : A little while, and you shall not see me : and
again a little while, and you shall see me, and because
I go to the Father ? They said therefore : What is
this that he saith : A little while ? we know not what
be speaketh. And Jesus knew that they had a mind
to ask him ; and he said to them : Of this do you in-
quire among yourselves, because I said : A little while,
and you shall not see me ; and again, a little while and
you shall see me. Amen, amen, I say to you, that you
shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice : and
you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be
turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labour,
hath sorrow, because her hour is come : but when she
hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no
more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the
world. So also you now indeed have sorrow, but I
will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice ; and
your joy no man shall take from you. Credo.
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
EPISTLE. James i. 17, 21. Dearly beloved:
Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights, with whom
there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. For of
his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth,
that we might be some beginning of his creatures.
You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man
he swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger.
For the anger of man worketn not the justice of God.
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430 FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abun-
dance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the in-
grafted word, whieh is able to save your souls.
GOSPEL. John xvi. 5, 15. At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : I go to him that sent me ; and
none of you asketh me : Whither goest thou ? But be-
cause I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath
filled your heart. But I tell you the truth : It is expe-
dient to you that I go : for if I go not, the Paraclete
will not come to you ; but if I go, I will send him to you.
And when he is come, he will convince the world of
sin, and of justice, and of judgment. Of sin : because
they believed not in me. Ana of justice : because I go
to the Father ; and you shall see me no longer. And of
judgment : because the prince of this world is already
judged. I have vet many things to say to you : but
you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of
truth is come, he will teach you all truth. For he
shall not speak of himself ; but what things soever he
shall hear, he shall speak : and the things that are to
come he shall show you. He shall glorify me : be-
cause he shall receive of mine, and shall show it you.
Credo.
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
EPISTLE. James i. 22, 27. Dearly beloved: "Be
ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
your own selves. For if a man be a hearer of the word
and not a doer ; he shall be compared to a man be*
bolding his own countenance in a glass. For be beheld
himself and went his way, and presently forgot what
manner of man he was. But he that hath looked into
the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein,
not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the
work : this man shall be blessed in his deed. And if
any man think himself religious, not bridling his
tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man’s reli-
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gion is vain. Religion clean and undefiled before
&od and the Father, is this : to visit the fatherless
and the widows in their tribulation : and to keep
one’s self unspotted from the world.
GOSPEL. John xvi. 23, 30. At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : Amen, amen, I say to you ; if
you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give
it you. Hitherto you have not asked any thing in my
name. Ask and you shall receive ; that your joy may
be full. These things I have spoken to you in proverbs.
The hour cometh when I no more will speak to you in
proverbs, but will show you plainly of the Father. In
that day you shall ask in my name : and I say not to
you, that I will ask the Father for you. For the Fa-
ther himself loveth you, because you have loved me,
and have believed that I came out from God. I came
forth from the Father, and am come into the world :
again I leave the world, and go to the Father. His
disciples say to him : Behold now thou speakest plainly,
and speakest no proverb. Now we know that thou
knowest all things, and thou needest not that any man
should ask thee. By this we believe that thou earnest
forth from God. Credo.
ASCENSION-DAY.
LESSON. Acts i. 1, 11. The former treatise, I
made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began
to do and to teach, until the day on which, giving com-
mandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom
he had chosen, he was taken up. To whom also he
showed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs,
by forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the
kingdom of God. And eating together with them, he
commanded them, that they should not depart from
Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Fa-
ther, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth :
for John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be
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D&ptfzed with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
They therefore who were come together, asked him,
saying : Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the
kingdom of Israel ? But he said to them : It is not
for you to know the times or moments, which the Fa-
ther hath put in his own power ; but you shall receive
the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and
Jou shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all
udea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of
the earth. And when he had said these things, while
they looked on, he was raised up ; and a cloud received
him out of their sight. And while they were behold-
ing him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by
them, in white garments. Who also said : Ye men of
Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven ? This
Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so
come as you have seen him going into heaven.
GOSPEL. Mark xvi. 14, 20. At that time: Jesus
appeared to the eleven as they were at table ; and he
upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of
heart, because they did not believe them who had seen
him after he was risen again. And he said to them :
Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to
every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall
be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be condemned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe : In my
name they snail cast out devils : they shall speak with
new tongues : they shall take up serpents : and if they
shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them :
they shall lay hands upon the sick, and they shall re-
cover. And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to
them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on the
right hand of God. But they going, preached every
where : the Lord working withal, and confirming the
word with signs that followed. Credo.
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SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE
ASCENSION.
EPISTLE. 1 Peter iv. 7, 11. Most dearly beloved:
Be prudent, and watch in prayers. But before all
things have a constant mutual charity among your-
selves : for charity convereth a multitude of sins. Using
hospitality one towards another, without murmuring.
As every man hath received grace, ministering the
same one to another: as good stewards of the manifold
grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the
words of God. If any man minister, let him do it as
of the nower which God administereth ; that in all
things God may be honoured through Jesus Christ ; to
whom is glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen,
GOSPEL. John xv. 26. xvi. 1, 4. At that time :
J esus said to his disciples : When the Paracelete cometh
whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of
truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give
testimony of me ; and you shall give testimony, because
you are with me from the beginning. These things
have I spoken to you, that you may not be scandalized.
They will put you out of the synagogues; yea the
hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think
that he doeth a service to God. And these things will
they do to you, because they have not known the Fa-
ther, nor me. But these things I have told you; that
when the hour shall come, you may remember that I
told you of them. Credo.
WHIT-SUNDAY.
LESSON. Actsii, 1, 11. When the days of Pen-
tecost were accomplished, they were all together in one
place : and suddenly there came a sound from heaven,
as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole
house where tney were sitting. And there appeared to
ihem parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon
ivery one of them : and they were all filled with the
2 o
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WHIT- SUNDAY.
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Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers
tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to
6peak. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews,
devout men out of every nation under heaven. And
when this was noised abroad, the multitude came toge-
ther, and were confounded in mind, because that every
man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they
were all amazed and wondered, saying: Behold, are not
all these that speak, Galileans; and how have we
heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were
born? Parthian9, and Medes, and Elamites, and inha-
bitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pon-
tus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphilia, Egypt and the
parts of Lybia, about Cyrene, and strangers of Borne,
Jews also, and Proselytes, Cretes and Arabians : we
have heard them speak in our own tongues the won-
derful works of God.
GOSPEL. John xiv. 23. 31. At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : If any one love me, he will keep
my word, and my Father will love him, and we will
come to him, and will make our abode with him : he
that loveth me not, keepeth not my words. And the
word which you have heard, is not mine : but the Fa-
ther's who sent me. These things have I spoken to
you, abiding with you. But the Paraclete, the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will
teach you all thing's, and bring all things to your mind,
whatsoever I shall have said to you. Peace I leave
with you, my peace I give to you : not as the world
giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I
said to you : I go away, and I come again to you. If
you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I
go to the Father : for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you before it come to pass : that
when it shall come to pass, you may believe. I will
not now speak many tnings with you. For the prince
of this world cometh, and in me he hath not any
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TRINITY 8 UNDAY.
435
thing. But that the world may know that I love the
Father : and as the Father hat& given me command-
ment, so do I. Credo.
TRINITY SUNDAY.
EPISTLE. Rom. xi. 33, 36. O the depth of the
riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God !
How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how un-
searchable his ways! For who hath known the mind
of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor? Or
who hath first given to him, and recompense shall be
made him ? For of him, and by him, and in him are all
things : to him be glory for ever. Amen .
GOSPEL. Matt . xxviii. 18, 20. At that time:
Jesus said to his disciples: All power is given to me in
heaven and in earth. Going, therefore, teach all na-
tions: Baptising them in the name op the Fa-
ther, and op the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you : and behold I am with you all days,
even to the consummation of the world. Credo.
GOSPEL of the First Sunday after Pentecost. Luke
vi. 36, 42. At that time: Jesus said to his disciples:
Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge
not, and you snail not be judged. Condemn not, and
vou shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall
be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to you ; good
measure and pressed down and shaken together and
running over, shall be given into your bosom. For
with the same measure that you shall mete withal, it
shall be measured to you again. And he spoke also to
them a similitude: Can the blind lead the blind? do
they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not
above his master: but every one shall be perfect, if he
be as his master. And why seest thou the mote in thy
brother’s eye ; but the beam that is in thy own eye
thou considerest not? or how canst thou say to tny
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CORPUS CHR1STI.
436
brother: Brother, let me pull the mote out of thy eye,
when thou thyself seest not the beam in thy own eye?
Hypocrite, cast first the beam out of thine own eye,
and then thou shalt see clearly to take out the mote
from thy brother’s eye. Deo gratia s.
CORPUS CHRISTL
EPISTLE. 1 Cor . xi. 23, 29. Brethren : I have re-
ceived of the Lord, that which also I delivered to yon,
that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was
betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke, and
said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body which shall
be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration
of me. In like manner also the chalice, after he had
supped, saying: This chalice is the New Testament
in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink
it, for the commemoration of me. For as often as yon
shall eat this bread, and drink this chalice, you shall
show the death of the Lord, until he come. Therefore,
whosoever shall eat this bread or drink of the chalice
of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and
blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself: and
so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and
drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body
of the Lord.
GOSPEL. John vi. 56, 59. At that time: Jesus
said to the multitude of the Jews : My flesh is meat
indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth
my flesh and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I
in him. As the living Father hath sent me, ana I live
by the Father ; so he that eateth me, the same also
shall live by me. This is the bread that came down
from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and
are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever.
Crbdo.
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SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 437
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. 1 John iii. 13, 18. Dearly beloved:
Wonder not if the world hate you. We know that we
have passed from death to life, because we love the
brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death. Who-
soever hateth his brother, is a murderer. And you
know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in
himself. In this we have known the charity of God,
because he hath laid down his life for us : and we
ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He that
hath the substance of this world, and shall see his
brother in need, and shut up his bowels from him : how
doth the charity of God abide in him? My little
children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in
deed and in truth.
GOSPEL. Luke xiv. 16, 24. At that time: Jesus
spoke this parable to the Pharisees : A certain man
made a great supper, and invited many, and he sent
his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that
were invited, that they should come, for now all things
are ready. And they began all at once to make excuse.
The first said to him : I nave bought a farm, and must
needs go out and see it : I pray thee, hold me ex-
cused. And another said : I have bought five yoke of
oxen, and I go to try them : I pray thee hold me ex-
cused. And another said : I have married a wife, and
therefore I cannot come. And the servant returning
told these things to his lord. Then the master of the
house being angry, said to his servant : Go out quickly
into the streets and lanes of the city, and bnng in
hither the poor, and the feeble, and the blind, ana the
lame. And the servant said : Lord, it is done as thoa
hast commanded, and vet there is room. And the Lord
said to the servant : Go out into the high- ways and
hedges ; and compel them to come in, that my house
may be filled. But I sav unto you, that none of those
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438 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
men that were invited, shall taste of my sapper.
Credo.
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. 1 Peter v. 6, 11. Dearly beloved: Be
you humbled under the mighty hand of God, that he
may exalt you in the time of visitation. Casting all
your care upon him, for he hath care of you. Be sober
and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a
roaring lion, goeth about, seeking whom he may de-
vour : whom resist ye, strong in faith ; knowing that
the same affliction befalls your brethren who are m the
world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us
into his eternal glory in Chnst Jesus, after you have
suffered a little, will himself perfect you, ana confirm
and Btablish you. To him be glory and empire for
ever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL. Luke xv. 1, 10. At that time: The
publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.
And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying:
This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. And
he spoke to them this parable, saying : What man of
you that hath a hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one
of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert,
and go after that which was lost until he find it? And
when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders re-
joicing : and coming home call together his friends and
neighbours, saying to them : Rejoice with me, because I
have found my sheep that was lost ? I say to you, that
even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner
that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just
who need not penance. Or what woman having ten
groats, if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle,
and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find
it ? And when she hath found it, call together her friends
and neighbours, saying : Rejoice with me, because I
have found the groat which I had lost ? So I say to
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FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 439
you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon
one sinner doing penance. Credo.
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. Bom. viii. 18, 23. Brethren: I reckon
that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed
in us. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for
the revelation of the sons of God. For the creature
was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by rea-
son of him that made it subject, in hope: Because the
creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude
of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the chil-
dren of God. For we know that every creature groan-
eth and travaileth in pain even till now. And not
only it, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of
the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the re-
demption of our body in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GOSPEL. Luke v. 1, 11. At that time: It came
to pass, that when the multitude pressed upon him to
hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesa-
reth. And he saw two ships standing by the lake ; but
the fishermen were gone out of them and were wash-
ing their nets. And going up into one of the ships
that was Simon’s, he desired him to draw back a little
from the land. And sitting he taught the multitudes
out of the ship. Now when he had ceased to speak,
he said to Simon : Launch out into the deep, and let
down your nets for a draught. And Simon, answer-
ing, said to him : Master, we have laboured all the
night, and have taken nothing ; but at thy word I will
let down the net. And when they had done this, they
enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their net
broke. ' And they beckoned to their partners that were
in the other ship, that they should come and help them.
And they came and filled both the ships, so that they
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440 FIFTH SUNDAY AFTEE PENTECOST.
were almost sinking. Which when Simon Peter saw,
he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying : Depart from me,
for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord. For he was wholly
astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught
of the fishes which they had taken. And so were also
James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were Si-
mon’s partners. And Jesus saith to Simon : Fear
not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And
having brought their ships to land, leaving all things
they lollowed him. Credo.
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTEE PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. 1 Peter iii. 8, 15. Pearly beloved: Be
ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, modest, hum-
ble : not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,
but contrariwise, blessing : for unto this you are called,
that you may inherit a blessing. “ For he that will
love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue
from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let
him decline from evil, and do gooa : let him seek after
peace, and pursue it : because the eyes of the Lord are
upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers ; but the
countenance of the Lord against them that do evil
things.” And who is he that nan hurt you, if you be
jealous of good ? But if also you suffer any thing for
justice sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of
their fear, and be not troubled. But sanctify the
Lord Christ in your hearts.
GOSPEL. Matt . v. 20, 24. At thai time: Jesus
said to his disciples : Unless your justice exceed that
of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into
the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was
said to them of old : Thou shalt not kill. And whoso-
ever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment. But
I say to you, that whosoever is angry with nis brother,
shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever
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SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTEC08T. 441
shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of
the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou fool,
shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore, if thou
bring thy gift to the altar, and there shalt remember
that thy brother hath any thing against thee ; leave
there thy gift before the altar, and go first to be
reconciled to thy brother : and then come and offer thy
gift. Credo.
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. Rom. vi. 3, 11. Brethren: All we who
are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in his death.
For we are buried together with him by baptism unto
death : that as Christ is risen from the dead by the
glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness
of life. For if we have been planted together in the
likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness
of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man
is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be de-
stroyed, and that we may serve sin no longer. For he
that is dead is justified from sin. Now if we be dead
with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together
with Christ. Knowing that Christ, rising again from
the dead, dieth now no more, death shall no more have
dominion over him. For in that he died to sin, he
died once : but in that he livetb, he liveth unto God.
So do you also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to
sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GOSPEL. Mark viii. 1, 9. At that time: When
there was a great multitude with Jesus, and had no-
thing to eat : calling his disciples together, he saith to
them : I have compassion on the multitude, for behold
they have now been with me three days, and have
nothing to eat ; and if I send them away fasting
to their own home, they will faint in the way : for
some of them came afar off. And his disciples an-
swered him : From whence can any one fill them her
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442 8£V£NTH 8UNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
with bread in tbe wilderness ? And he asked them :
How many loaves have ye? Who said : Seven. And
he commanded the people to sit down on the ground ;
and taking the seven loaves, giving thanks, he broke,
and gave to his disciples for to set before them, and they
set them before the people. And they had a few little
fishes ; and he blessed them, and commanded them to
be set before them. And they did eat and were filled,
and they took up that which was left of the fragments,
seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about
four thousand : and he sent them away. Crbdo.
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. Rom . vi. 19. Brethren: I speak a
human thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh:
for as you have yielded your members to serve unclean-
ness and iniquity unto iniquity ; so now yield your
members to serve justice, unto sanctification. For
when you were the servants of sin, you were free from
justice. What fruit therefore had you then in those
things of which you are now ashamed ? For the end
of them is death. But now being made free from sin,
and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto
sanctification, and the end hie everlasting. For the
wages of sin is death ; but the grace of Goa, life ever-
lasting in Christ Jesus our Lord.
^GOSPEL. Matt . vii. 15, 21. At that ttme: Jesus
said to his disciples : Beware of false prophets, who
come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they
are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know
them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles ? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good
fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an
evil tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bring-
eth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall
be cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you
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EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 443
shall know them. Not everyone that saith, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he
that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Credo.
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. Bom. viii. 12, 17. Brethren : We are
debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die:
but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh,
you shall live. For whosoever are led by the Spirit of
God, they are the sons of God. For you have not re-
ceived the spirit of bondage again in fear ; but you have
received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we
cry: Abba, (Father.) For the Spirit himself giveth
testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God.
And if sons, heirs also : heirs indeed of God, and joint
heirs with Christ.
GOSPEL. Luke xvi. 1, 0. At that time: Jesus
spoke to his disciples this parable : There was a cer-
tain rich man who had a steward : and the same was
accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods. And
he called him, and said to him ; How is it that I hear
this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship: for
now thou canst be steward no longer. And the steward
said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord
taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am
not able ; to beg I am ashamed. I know what I will
do, that when I shall be removed from the stewardship,
they may receive me into their houses. Therefore call-
ing together every one of his lord’s debtors, he said to
the first: How much dost thou owe my lord? But he
said : A hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him :
Take thy bill and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
Then he said to another : And how much dost thou
owe? Who said: A hundred quarters of wheat. He
said to him : Take thy bill and write eighty. And the
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444 NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he
had done wisely : for the children of this world are
wiser in their generation, than the children of light.
And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mam-
mon of iniquity, that when you shall fail, they may re-
ceive you into everlasting dwellings. Credo.
NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. 1 Cor . x. 0, 13. Brethren: Let us
not covet evil things, as they also coveted. Neither
become ye idolaters, as some of them : as it is written :
“The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to
play ” Neither let us commit fornication, as some of
them committed fornication, and there fell in one day
three-and-twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt
Christ : as some of them tempted, and perished by the
serpents. Neither do you murmur : as some of them
murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now
all these things happened to them in figure : and they
are written for our correction, upon wnorathe ends of
the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh
himself to stand, take heed lest he fall. Let no temp-
tation take hold on you but such as is human. And
God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that which you are able ; but will make also with
temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.
GOSPEL. Luke xix. 41, 47. At that time: When
he drew near to Jerusalem, seeing the city, he wept over
it, saying: If thou also hadst known, and that in this
thy day, the things that are to thy peace : but now they
are hidden from thy eyes. For the days shall come
upon thee : and thy enemies shall cast a trench about
thee, and compass thee round, and straiten thee on
every side, and beat thee fiat to the ground, and thy
children who are in thee : and they shall not leave in
thee a stone upon a stone; because thou hast not
known the time of thy visitation. And entering into
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TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 445
the temple, he began to cast out them that sold therein,
and them that bought, saying to them : It is written :
“ My house is the house of prayer.” But you have made
it a den of thieves. And he was teaching daily in the
temple. Credo.
TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. 1 Cor . xii. 2, 11. Brethren: You know
that when you were heathens, you went to dumb idols,
according as you were led. • Wherefore I give you to
understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God,
saith anathema to Jesus. And no man can say the Lord
Jesus, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversi-
ties of graces, but the same spirit. And there are di-
versities of ministries, but the same Lord. And there
are diversities of operations, but the same God who
worketh all in all. And the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to every man unto profit. To one indeed, by
the Spirit, is given the word of wisdom ; and to ano-
ther, the word of knowledge, according to the same
spirit; to another faith in the same spirit; to another,
the grace of healing in one spirit ; to another, the
working of miracles ; to another, prophecy ; to another,
the discerning of spirits ; to another, divers kinds of
tongues ; to another, interpretation of speeches. But
in all these things, one and the same Spirit worketh,
dividing to every one according as he will.
GOSPEL. Luke xviii. 9, 14. At that time: Jesus
spake this parable to some who trusted in themselves
as just, and despised others. Two men went up into
the temple to pray : the one was a Pharisee, and the
other a publican. The Pharisee standing, prayed thus
with himself : O God, I give thee thanks that I am not
as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as
also is this publican. I fast twice in the week : I give
tithes of all that I possess. And the publican standing
afar off would not so much as lift up his eyes towards
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446 ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
heaven: but struck his breast, sayitig: O God, be
merciful to me a sinner. I say to you, this man went
down to his house justified rather than the other, be-
cause every one that exalted himself, shall be hum-
bled ; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.
Credo.
ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. 1 Cor . xv. 1, 10. Brethren: I make
known unto you the gospel which I preached to you,
which also you have received, and wherein you stand,
by which also you are saved : if you hold fast after
what manner I preached unto you, unless you have be-
lieved in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all,
which I also received : how that Christ died for our
sins according to the Scriptures : and that he was
buried, and that he arose again the third day according
to the Scriptures : and that he was seen by Cephas ;
and after tnat by the eleven. Then was he seen by
more than five hundred brethren at once ; of whom
many remain until this present, and some are fallen
asleep. After that he was seen by James, then by all
the apostles : and last of all, he was seen also by me,
as one born out of due time. For I am the least of the
apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the Church of God. But by
the grace or God I am what i am ; and his grace in
me hath not been void.
GOSPEL. Mark vii. 31, 37. At that ttme: Jesus
going out of the coast of Tyre, he came by Sidon to
the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coast of
Decapolis. And they bring to him one deaf and dumb :
and they besought him that he would lay his hand
upon him. And taking him from the multitude apart,
he put his fingers into nis ears, and spitting, he touched
his tongue : and looking up to heaven, he groaned
and said to him : Ephpneta, that is, Be opened. And
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TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 447
immediately his ears were opened, and the string of
his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right. And he
charged them that they should tell no man. But the
more he charged them, so much the more a great deal
did they publish it. And so much the more did they
wonder, saying : He bath done all things well ; he
hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to
speak. Credo.
TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. 2 Cor . iii. 4, 9. Brethren : We have
confidence through Christ towards God : not that we
are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves as of our-
selves : but our sufficiency is from God. Who also
hath made us fit ministers of the New Testament, not
in the letter, but in the spirit. For the letter killeth ;
but the spirit quickeneth. Now if the ministration of
death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious,
so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly be-
hold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance,
which is made void : how shall not the ministration ot
the Spirit be rather in glory ? For if the ministration
of condemnation be glory, much more the ministra-
tion of justice aboundeth in glory.
GOSPEL. Luke x. 23, 37. At that time : Jesus
said to his disciples : Blessed are the eyes that see the
things which you see. For I say to you, that many
prophets and kings have desired to see the things that
you see, and have not seen them ; and to hear the
things that you hear, and have not heard them. And
bebrnd a certain lawyer stood up, tempting him, and
saying : Master, what must I do to possess eternal life?
But he said to him : What is written in the law? how
readest thou? He answering, said : “ Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy
whole soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind : and thy neighbour as thyself/’ And he said to
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448 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTEC08T.
him : Thou hast answered right : this do and thou shalt
live. But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus :
And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering,
said : A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Je-
richo, and fell among robbers, who had stripped him,
and having wounded him, went away, leaving him half
dead. Ana it chanced that a certain priest went down
the same way : and seeing him, passed by. In like
manner also a Levite, when he was near the place, and
saw him, passed by. But a certain Samaritan being on
his journey, came near him : and seeing him, was
moved with compassion. And going up to him, bound
up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine : and setting
him upon his own beast brought him to an inn, and
took care of him. And the next day he took out two
pieces, and gave to the host, and said : Take care of
nim ; and whatsoever thou shalt spend over and above,
I at my return will repay thee. Which of these three
in thy opinion was neighbour to him that fell among
robbers ? But he said : He that showed mercy to him.
And Jesus said to him : Go, and do thou in like man-
ner. Credo.
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTE-
COST.
EPISTLE. Gal. iii. 16, 22. Brethren: To Abra-
ham were the promises made, and to his seed. He
saith not : And to his seeds, as of many ; but as of one :
And to thy seed, which is Christ. Now this I say,
that the testament which was confirmed by God, the
law which was made after four hundred and thirty
years, doth not disannul, or make the promise of no
effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no
more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by
promise. Why then was the Taw ? It was set because
of transgressions, until the seed should come, to whom
he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the
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FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTEC08T. 449
hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not of one ; but
God is one. Was the law then against the promises of
God? God forbid. For if there nad been a law given
which could give life, verily justice should have been
by the law. JBut the Scripture hath concluded all un-
der sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ
might be given to them that believe.
GOSPEL. Luke xvii. 11, 19. At that time: As
Jesus was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the
midst of Samaria and Galilee. Ana as he entered into
a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers,
who stood afar off, and lifted up their voice, saying:
Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. Whom when he
saw, he said : Go, show yourselves to the priests. And
it came to pass, that as they went, they were made
clean. And one of them when he saw that he was
made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying
God. And he fell on his face before his feet, giving
thanks: and this was a Samaritan. And Jesus an-
swering, said : Were not ten made clean, and where
are the nine ? There is no one found to return and
five glory to God, but this stranger. And he said to
im : Arise, go thy way ; for thy faith hath made
thee whole. Credo.
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTE-
COST.
EPISTLE. Gal. v. 16, 24. Brethren: Walk in the
Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh*
For the flesh lusteth against the spirit ; and the spirit
against the flesh : for these are contrary to one ano-
ther, so that you do not the things that you would.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the
law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which
are, fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, ido-
latry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations,
wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, envy, murders,
2 p 2
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450 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which
I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who
do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace,
Eatience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness,
lith, modesty, contmency, chastity. Against such
there is no law. And they that are Christ’s, have cru-
cified their flesh with the vices and concupiscences.
GOSPEL. Matt . vi. 24, 33. At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : No man can serve two masters.
For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or
he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say to
you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat,
nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the
life more than the meat, and the body more than the
raiment : Behold the birds of the air, for they neither
sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns, and your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much
more value than they ? And which of you, by taking
thought, can add to his stature one cubit? And for
raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies
of the field now they grow : they labour not, neither
do they spin. But 1 say to you, that not even Solomon
in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if
the grass of the field, which is to-day, and to-morrow
is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe : how much
more you, O ye of little faith. Be not solicitous there-
fore, saying, what shall we eat, or what shall we drink,
or wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these
things do the heathens seek. For your Father know-
eth that you have need of all these things, Seek ye
therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice,
and all these things shall be added unto you. Credo.
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FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTEC08T. 451
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTE-
COST.
EPISTLE. Gal. v. 25. vi. 1, 10. Brethren: If we
live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let
us not be made desirous of vain elory, provoking one
another, envying one another. (Chap, vi.) Brethren, if
a man be overtaken in any fault, you, who are spiritual,
instruct such a one in the spirit of meekness, consider-
ing thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one
another’s burdens : and so you shall fulfil the law of
Christ. For if any man think himself to be something,
whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let
every one prove his own work, and so he shall have
glory in himself only, and not in another. For every
one shall bear his own burden. And let him that 19
instructed in the word, communicate to him that in-
structeth him, in all good things. Be not deceived,
God is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow,
those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his
flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. Bui he
that soweth in the Spirit, of the Spirit shall reap life
everlasting. And in doing good, let us not fail. For
in due time we shall reap, not failing. Therefore,
whilst we have time, let us work good to all men,
but especially to those who are of the household of the
faith.
GOSPEL. Luke vii. 11, 16. At that time: Jesus
went into a city called Naim ; and there went with him
his disciples, and a great multitude. And when he
came nigh to the city, behold a dead man was carried
out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow ;
and much people of the city were with her. And when
the Lord saw ner, he had compassion on her, and said
to her: Weep not. And he came near and touched
the bier. And they that carried it, stood still. And
he said : Young man, I say to thee, Arise. And he
that was dead, sat up, and began to speak. And he
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452 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
delivered him to his mother. And there came 8 fear
on them all: and they glorified God, saying: A great
prophet is risen up amongst us, and God hath visited
nis people.
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTE-
COST.
EPISTLE. Ephes. iii. 13, 21. Brethren: Ij»ray
you not to faint at my tribulations for you, wluoh is
your glory. For this cause I bow my knee to the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity
in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you-
according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened
by his Spirit with might unto the inward man. That
Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts: that fseing
rooted and founded in charity, you mav lie able to
comprehend, with all the saints, what is the bread tli, and
length, and height, and depth : to know also f bediarity
of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge, that you may
be filled unto all the fullness of God. Now to bun who
is able to do all things more abundantlj' than we
desire or understand, according to the }tower that
worketh in us : to him be glory m the church, and in
Christ Jesus, unto all generations, world without end.
Amen.
GOSPEL. Luke xiv. 1, 11. At that time : When
Jesus went into the house of one of the eluof of the
Pharisees on the Sabbath-day to eat bread, they
watched him. And behold there was a certain man
before him that had the dropsy. And J esus answering,
spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying: Is it law-
mi to heal on the Sabbath-day? But they held their
peace. But he, taking him, healed him, and sent him
away. And answering them, he said: Which of yon
shall have an ass or an ox fall into a pit; and will not
immediately draw him out on the Sabbath-day ? And
they could not answer him to these things. And ho
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SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 453
spoke a parable also to them that were invited, mark'
ing how they chose the first seats at the table, saying
to them : Wnen thou art invited to a wedding, sit not
down in the first place, lest perhaps one more honour-
able than thou be invited by him : and he that invited
thee and him, come and say to thee: Give this man
place ; and then thou begin with shame to take the
lowest place. But when thou art invited, go, sit down
in the lowest place, that when he who invited thee
cometh, he may say to thee : Friend, go up higher.
Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at
table with thee ; because every one that exalted him-
self, shall be humbled ; and he that humble th himself,
shall be exalted. Credo.
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTE-
COST.
EPISTLE. Ephes. iv. 1, 0. Brethren: I who am
a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk
worthy of the vocation in which you are called. With
all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting
one another in charity. Careful to keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one
spirit ; as you are called in one hope of your calling.
One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God, and Fa-
ther of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us
all, who is blessed for evermore.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxii. 35, 40. At that time : The
Pharisees came to J esus ; and one of them, a doctor of
the law, asked him, tempting him : Master, which is
the great commandment of the law? Jesus said to
him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy
whole hearty and with thy whole smd9 and with thy
whole mind. This is the greatest and the first com-
mandment. And the second is like to this : Thou shalt
lave thy neighbour as thyself. On these two com-
mandments dependeth the whole law and the pro-
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454 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
J hets. And the Pharisees being gathered together,
Iegu9 asked them, saying: What think you of Christ?
whose son is he ? They say to him : David’s. He
saith to them : How then doth David in spirit call him
Lord, saying : The Lord said to my Lord , Sit on my
right handy until I make thy enemies thy footstool?
If David then call him Lord, now is he his son ? Anil
no man was able to answer him a word ; neither durst
any man from that day forth ask him any more ques *
Horn, Credo.
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTE-
COST.
EPISTLE. 1 Cor, i. 4, 8. Brethren : I give thanks
to my God always for you, for the grace of God, thst
is given you in Christ Jesus ; that in all things you
are made rich in him, in all utterance, and in all
knowledge, as the testimony of Christ was confirmed
in you. So that nothing is wanting to you in any
grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Who also will confirm you unto the end witli-
out crime, in the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
GOSPEL. Matt, ix. 1, 8. At that time: Jes is
entering into a boat, he passed over the water « d
came into his own city. And behold they brought ti»
him one sick of the paUy, lying on a bed. And Jesus
seeing their faith, said to the man sick of the palsy: !)o
of good heart, son, thy sins are forgiven thee. An l
behold some of the Scribes said within themselv*:
He blaspheme th. And Jesus seeing their though to*,
said : Why do you think evil in your heart? Whe-
ther is it easier to say : Thy sins are forgiven thee : ct
to say : Arise and walk ? But that you mav know i hat
the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sin v
(then said he to the man sick of the palsy,) Aiise,
take up thy bed, and go into thy house. Ana ne arose
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NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 455
and went into his house. And the multitude seeing it,
feared and glorified God that gave such power to men.
Credo.
NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTE-
COST.
EPISTLE. Ephes . iv. 28, 28. Brethren: Be re-
newed in the spirit of your mind ; and put on the new
man, who, according to God, is created injustice, and
holiness of truth. Wherefore putting away lying,
speak ye the truth every man with his neighlx>ur : for
we are members one of another. Be angry and sin not.
Let not the sun go down upon your anger. Give not
place to the devil. He that stole, let him now steal no
more : but rather let him labour, working with his
hands the thing which is good, that he may have some-
thing to give to him that suffereth need.
GOSPEL. Matt . xxii. 1, 14. At that time: Jesus
spoke to the scribes and Pharisees in a parable, say-
ing : The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king, who
made a marriage for his son. And he sent his servants,
to call them that were invited to the marriage : and
they would not come. Again he sent other servants,
saying : Tell them that were invited : Behold, I have
prepared my dinner : my beeves and fatlings are killed,
and all things are ready : come ye to the marriage.
But they neglected, ana went their ways, one to his
farm, and another to his merchandise. And the rest
laid hands on his servants, and having treated them
contumeliously, put them to death. But when the king
had heard of it, he was angry, and sending his armies,
he destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city.
Then he saith to his servants : The marriage indeed is
ready : but they that were invited, were not worthy.
Go ye therefore into the high-ways ; and as many as
you shall find, call to the marriage. And his servants
going forth into the ways, gathered together all they
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456 TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
found, both bad and good : and the marriage was filled
with guests. And the king went in to see the guests,
and he saw there a man woo had not on a wedding
garment. And he saith to him, Friend, how earnest
thou in hither, not having on a wedding garment?
But he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters:
Bind his hands and his feet, and cast him into the ex*
terior darkness ; there shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth. For many are called but few are chosen.
Credo.
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTE-
COST.
EPISTLE. Ephes. v. 15, 21. Brethren: Sec,
therefore, how you walk circumspectly, not as unwise.,
but as wise : redeeming the time, because the days are
evil. Wherefore become not unwise, but understand-
ing what is the will of God. And be not drunk with
wine, wherein is luxury, but be ye filled with the holy
Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns,
and spiritual canticles, singing ana making melody in
your nearts to the Lord : giving thanks always for all
things in the name of our Lora J esus Christ, to God
and the Father. Being subject one to another in the
fear of Christ.
GOSPEL, John iv. 46, 53. At that time: There
was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capharnauin.
He having heard that Jesus was come from Judea into
Galilee, went to him, and prayed him to come down
and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
Jesus therefore said to him : Unless you see signs and
wonders, you believe not. The ruler saith to him :
Lord, come down before that my son die. Jesus saith
to him : Go thy way, thy son liveth. The man be-
lieved the word which Jesus said to him, and wentthia
way. And as he was going down, bis servants me
him : and they brought word, saying, that his sou
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TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOBT. 457
lived. He asked therefore of them the hour wherein
he grew better. And they said to him : Yesterday at
the seventh hoar the fever left him. The father
therefore knew that it was at the same hour that Jesua
said to him : Thy son liveth ; and himself believed,
and his whole house. Credo.
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PEN-
TECOST.
EPISTLE. Ephes. vi. 10, 17. Brethren: Be
strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his
power. Put you on the armour of God, that you may
be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For
our wrestling is not against flesh and blood ; but against
principalities and powers, against the rulers of the
world of this darkness, against the spirit of wicked-
ness in the high places. Therefore take unto you the
armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the
evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breast-plato of justice, and your feet
shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ; in all
things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may
be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most
wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salva-
tion, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God.
GOSPEL. Matt, xviii. 2d, 35. At that time: Jesus
spoke to his disciples this parable : The kingdom of
heaven is likened to a king who would take an account
of his servants. And when he had begun to take the
account, one was brought to him that owed him ten
thousand talents. And as he had not wherewith to pay
it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his
wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to
be made. But that servant falling down, besought him,
saying : Have patience with me and I will pay thee
2 Q
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458 TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
jdl. And the lord of that servant being moved with
pity, let him go, and forgave him the debt. But when
that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow-
servants that owed him a hundred pence ; apd laying
hold of him, he throttled him, saying : Pay what thou
owest. And his fellow-servant falling down, besought
him, saying : Have patience with me, and I will pay
thee all. And he would not : but went and cast him
into prison, till he paid the debt. Now his fellow-ser-
vants seeing what was done, were very much grieved,
and they came and told their lord all that was done.
Then his lord called him, and said to him : Thou wicked
servant, I forgave thee all the debt, because thou be-
soughtest me : shouldst not thou then have had com-
passion also on thy fellow- servant, even as I had
compassion on thee ? And hi9 lord being angry, deli-
vered him to the torturers, until he paid all the debt. So
also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive
not every one his brother from your hearts. Credo.
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PEN-
TECOST.
EPISTLE. Phil. i. 6, 11. Brethren: We are con-
fident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a
food work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ
esus. As it is meet for me to think this for you all :
for that I have you in my heart ; and that in my bands,
and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you
are all partakers of my joy. For God is my witness,
how I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
And this I pray, that your charity may more and more
abound in knowledge and in all understanding ; that
you may approve the better things, that you may be
sincere ana without offence unto the day of Christ.
Filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ,
unto the glory and praise of God.
GOSPEL. Matt . xxii. 15, 21. At that time: The
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TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 459
Pharisees going, consulted among themselves how to
ensnare Jesus in his speech. And they sent to him
their disciples, with the Herodians, saying : Master,
we know that thou art a true speaker, and teachest the
way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man :
for thou dost not regard the person of men. Tell us
therefore what thou dost think, is it lawful to give
tribute to Csesar or not? But Jesus knowing tneir
wickedness, said : Why do you tempt me, ye hypo-
crites? Show me the coin of the tribute. And they
offered him a penny. And Jesus saith to them :
Whose image and inscription is this? They say to
him : Caesars. Then he saith to them : Render there-
fore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God
the things that are God's. Credo.
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PEN-
TECOST.
Should there be but 23 Sundays after Pentecost, the Mass of the
24th is said to-day, and this on the preceding Saturday, (if it be nei-
ther a double nor semi-double,) in which case it is said on some vacant
day before it.
EPISTLE. Philip . iii. 17, 21 ; iv. 1, 3. Brethren:
Be followers of me, and observe them who walk so as
you have our model. For many walk, of whom I have
told you often, (and now tell you weeping,) that they
are enemies of the cross of Christ ; whose end is de-
struction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory
is their shame : who mind earthly things. But our
conversation is in heaven : from whence also we look
for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, who will reform
the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his
glory, according to the operation whereby also he is
able to subdue all things unto himself. (Chap, iv.)
Therefore my dearly beloved brethren, and most de-
sired, mv joy, and my crown : so stand fast in the Lord,
my dearly beloved. I beg of Evodia, and I beseech
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400 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTEC08T.
Syntyche, to be of one mind in the Lord. And I en-
treat thee also, my sincere companion, help those wo-
men that have laboured with me in the gospel, with
Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose
names are in the book of life.
GOSPEL. Matt . ix. 18, 26. At that time : As
Jesus was speaking to the multitude, behold a certain
ruler came up and adored him, saying : Lord, my
daughter is even now dead ; but come, lay^ thy
hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus rising
up followed him, with his disciples. And behold a
woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve
years, came behind him and touched the hem of his
garment. For she said within herself : If I shall touch
only his garment, I shall be healed. But Jesus turn-
ing and seeing her, said : Be of good heart, daughter,
thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was
made whole from that hour. And when Jesus was
come into the house of the ruler, and saw the minstrels
and the multitude making a rout, he said : Give place :
for the girl is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed
him to scorn. And when the multitude was put forth,
he went in and took her by the hand. And the maid
arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that
country. Credo.
As there cannot be less than 23, nor more than 28 Sundays after
Pentecost, it is to be observed, that the Mass of the 24th is always
said on that Sunday which immediately precedes Advent. When,
therefore, it happens that there are any intervening Sundays between
the 23rd and the last, the Epistles ana Gospels are taken from the
Sundays which were omitted after Epiphany : for instance, if bat one
Sunday, the Maas is of the 6th after Epiphany ; if two, of the 6th
and 6th ; if three, of the 4th, 5th, and 6tn ; and if four, of the M,
4th, 6th, and 6th..
TWENTY-FOURTH, or last SUNDAY AFTEB
PENTECOST.
EPISTLE. Colos. i. 9, 14. Brethren: We cease
not to pray for you, and to beg that you may be filled
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TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 461
with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom, and
spiritual understanding : that you may walk worthy of
God, in all things pleasing : being fruitful in every
good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God :
strengthened with all might, according to the power of
his glory, in all patience and long-suffering with joy.
Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us
worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light :
who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of
his love, in whom we have redemption through his
blood, the remission of sins.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxiv. 15, 35s At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : When you shall see the abomi-
nation of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, standing in the holy place : he that read-
eth let him understand. Then they that are in Judea,
let them flee to the mountains ; and he that is on the
house-top, let him not come down to take any thing
out of his house ; and he that is in the held, let him
not go back to take his coat. And woe to them that
are with child, and give suck in those days. But pray
that your flight be not in the winter, nor on the Sabbath.
For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath
not been from the beginning of the world until now,
neither shall be. And unless those days had been
shortened, no flesh could be saved : but for the sake
of the elect, those days shall be shortened. Then if
any man shall say to you : Lo ! here is Christ, or
there : do not believe him : For there shall arise false
Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs
and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even
the elect. Behold I have told it you, beforehand ; if
therefore they shall say to you : Behold he is in the
desert, go ye not out : Behold he is in the closets, be-
lieve it not. For as lightning cometh out of the east,
and appeareth even into the west ; so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be. Wheresoever the body
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463 TWBNTY-FOUEIH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered toge-
ther. And immediately after the tribulation of those
days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall
not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven,
and the powers of the heavens shall be moved : and
there shall appear the sign of the Son of man in hea-
ven : and then shall all tnbes of the earth mourn : and
they shall see the Son of man, coming in the clouds of
heaven with much power and majesty. And he shall
send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice : and
they shall gather together his elect from the four
winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the
utmost bounds of them. And from the fig-tree learn
a parable : when the branch thereof is now tender, and
the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.
So you also, when you shall see all these things, know
ye that it is nigh even at the doors. Amen, I say to
you, that this generation shall not pass, till these
things be done. Heaven aud earth shall pass, but
my words shall not pass. Credo.
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THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
CONCEPTION of the B. V. MARY.
8TH DECEMBER.
LESSON. Prov. yiii. 22, 35. The Lord possessed
me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any
thing, from the beginning. I was set up from eternity,
and of old, before the earth was made. The depths
were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither
bad the fbun tains of water as yet sprung out : the moun-
tains with their huge bulk had not as yet been esta-
blished : before the hills I was brought forth : he had
not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of
the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was
there : when with a certain law and compass he en-
closed the depths: when he established the sky above,
and poised the fountains of waters : when he compassed
the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters,
that they should not pass their limits : when he balanced
the foundations of the earth, I was with him forming
all things, and was delighted every day, playing before
him at all times, playing in the world : and my delight
is to be with the children of men. Now, therefore, ye
children, hear me : blessed are they that keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth
daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
He that shall find me shall find life, and shall have sal-
vation from the Lord.
GOSPEL. Matt, i. 1, 16. The book of the genera-
tion of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abra-
ham. Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob.
And Jacob begot Judas and hb brethren. And Judas
begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot
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ST. PATRICK.
464
Esroii. And Esron begot Aram. And Aram begot
Arninidab. And Aminidab begot Naasson. And Naas-
son begot Salmon. And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab.
And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse.
And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king
begot Solomon, of her who had been the wife of Urias.
And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot
Abia. And Abia begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat.
And J osaphat begot Joram. And J oram begot Ozias.
And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz.
And Achas begot Ezechias. And Ezechias begot Me-
nasses. And Menasses begot Amon. And Amon begot
Josias. And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren
in the transmigration of Babylon. And after the trans-
migration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel. And
Salathiel begot Zorobabel. And Zorobabel begot Abiub.
And Abiub begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor.
And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And
Achim begot Eliud. And Eliud begot Eleazar. And
Eleazar begot Matham. And Matnam begot Jacob.
And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of
whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Of St PATRICK, ap. and Patron of Ireland.
17th march.
LESSON. Ecclea. xliv. xlv. Behold a great priest^
who in his time pleased God, and was found just ;
and in the time of wrath became an atonement. There
were none found like him in observing the law of the
Most High. Therefore by an oath did the Lord make
him great amongst his people. He gave him the
blessing of all nations, and established his covenant on
his head. He acknowledged him in his blessings: he
stored up his mercy for him ; and he found favour in
the eyes of the Lord. (Chap, xlv.) He exalted him in
the sight of kings ; and gave him a crown of glory. He
made with him an eternal covenant: and bestowed on
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ANNUNCIATION.
465
ldm a great priesthood : and rendered him blessed in
glory. To perform the priestly office, to sing praises
to the name of God ; ana to offer him precious incense
tor an odour of sweetness.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 14, 23. At that time : Jesus
spoke this parable to his disciples : A man going into
a far country, called his servants, and delivered to them
his goods. And to one he gave five talents, and to
another two, and to another one, to every one according
to his proper ability ; and immediately he took his
journey. And he tnat had received the five talents
went his way. and traded with the same, and gained
other five. And in like manner he that had received
the two, gained other two. But he that had received
the one, going his way, digged into the earth, and hid
his lord1® money. But after a long time the lord of
those servants came, and reckoned with them. And
he that had received the five talents, coming, brought
other five talents, saying : Lord, thou didst deliver to
me five talents, behold I have gained other five over
and above. His lord said to mm : Well done, good
and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful
over a few things, I will place thee over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And he also that
had received the two talents came and said : Lord,
thou deliveredst two talents to me : behold I have
gained other two. His lord said to him: Well done,
good and faithful servant, because thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many
things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
ANNUNCIATION of the B. V. MARY.
25th march.
LESSON. Is. vii. 10. 16. In those days: The
Lord spoke unto Achaz, saying : Ask thee a sign of
the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of hell, or
unto the height above. And Achaz said : I will not
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ANNUNCIATION.
466
ask, and I will not tempt the Lord. And he said :
Hear ye, therefore, O house of David ; Is it a small
thing For you to be grievous to men, that you are grie-
vous to my God also? Therefore, the Lord himself shall
give you a sign. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and
bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.
He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to
refuse the evil, and to choose the good.
GOSPEL. Luke i. 26, 38. At that time: The an-
gel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee,
called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose
name was Joseph, of the house of David : and the vir-
gin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said
unto her : Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee : blessed art thou among women. Who having
heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with
herself what manner of salutation this should be. And
the angel said to her : Fear not, Mary, for thou hast
found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in
thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be
called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne of David his father : and
he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of
his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to
the angel : How shall this be done, because I know not
man ? And the angel answering, said to her : The
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the
Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also
the Holy which shall be born of thee, shall be called
the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth
she also hath conceived a son in her old age ; and this
is the sixth month with her that is called barren : be-
cause no word shall be impossible with God. And
Mary said : Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it
done to me according to thy word.
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SS. PETER and PAUL.
29th JUNE.
LESSON. Acts xii. 1, 11. In those days: Herod
the king stretched forth his hand to afflict some of the
church. And he killed James the brother of John
with the sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews,
he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in
the days of Azymes. And when he had apprehended
him, ne cast him into prison, delivering him to four
files of soldiers to be kept, intending after the pasch to
bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept
in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by
the church unto God for him. And when Herod would
have brought him forth, the same night Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains :
and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And
behold an angel of the Lord stood t>y him : and a light
shined in the room : and he striking Peter on the side
raised him up, saying : Arise quickly. And the chains
fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him :
Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he did so.
And he said to him : Cast thy garment about thee, and
follow me. And going out he followed him, and he
knew not that it was true which was done by the angel :
but thought he saw a vision. And passing through the
first and second ward, they came to the iron gate that
leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them. And
going out, they passed on through one street : and im-
mediately the angel departed from him. And Peter
coming to himself, said : Now I know in very deed that
the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me
out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation
of the people of the J ews.
GOSPEL. Matt . xvi. 13, 19. At that time: Jesus
came into the quarters of Cesarea Philippi : and he
asked his disciples, saying : Whom do men say that
the Son of man is? But they said: Some, John the
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ASSUMPTION.
468
Baptist, and other some, Elias, and others Jeremias, or
one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them: Bat whom
do you say that 1 am ? Simon Peter answered and
said : Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answering, said to him : Blessed art thou,
Simon Bar-Jona; because flesh and blood hath not re-
vealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And
I say to thee: That thou art Peter, and upon this rock
I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of
the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt
bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven : and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed
also in heaven. Credo.
ASSUMPTION of the B. V. MARY.
15th august.
LESSON. Eccles . xxiv. 11, 20. I sought rest
every where, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the
Lord. Then the Creator of all things gave his orders,
and said to me : and he that made me, rested in my
tabernacle, and he said to me : Let thy dwelling be in
Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in
my elect. From the beginning, and before the world
was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not
cease to be, and in the holy dwelling place I have mi-
nistered before him. And I was so established in Sion,
and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power
was in Jerusalem. And I took root in an honourable
people, and in the portion of my God his inheritance,
and my abode is in the full assembly of saints. I was
exalted like a cedar in Libanus, ana as a cypress-tree
on mount Sion. I was exalted like a palm-tree in
Cades, and as a rose plant in Jericho : as a fair olive-
tree in the plains, and as a plane-tree by the water in
the streets, was I exalted. I gave a sweet smell like
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ALL SAINTS. 469
cinnamon, and aromatical balm : like the myrrh I
yielded a sweet odour.
GOSPEL. Luke x. 38, 42. At that time : Jesus
entered into a certain town ; and a certain woman
named Martha, received him into her house. And
she had a sister called Mary. Who sitting also at the
Lord's feet, heard his word. But Martha was busy
about much serving. Who stood and said : Lord, hast
thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve ?
Speak to her therefore, that she help me. And the
Lord answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, thou
art careful, and art troubled about many things. But
one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen me best
part, which shall not be taken from her. Credo.
FEAST OF ALL SAINTS.
1ST NOVEMBER.
LESSON. Rev. vii. 2, 12. In those dayst Behold
I, John, saw another angel ascending from the rising
of the sun, having the sign of the living God : and he
cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it
was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying: Hurt
not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we have
signed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And
I neard the number of them that were signed, an
hundred forty-four thousand were signed, of every
tribe of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah,
t oere twelve thousand signed : Of the tribe of Beuben,
twelve thousand signed : Of the tribe of Gad, twelve
thousand signed : Of the tribe of Aser, twelve thou-
sand signed : Of the tribe of Nephtali, twelve thousand
signed: Of the tribe of Manasses, twelve thousand
signed: Of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand
signed : Of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand signed :
Of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand signed : Of
the tribe of Zebulon, twelve thousand signed : Of the
tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe
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470 COMMEM. OF THE FAITHFUL.
of Benjamin, twelve thousand signed. After this I saw
a great multitude, which no man could number, of all
nations and tribes, and peoples and tongues ; standing
before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed
with white robes, and palms in their hands ; and they
cried with a loud voice, saying : Salvation to our God
who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. And
all the angels stood round about the throne, and the
ancients, and the four living creatures ; and they fell
down before the throne upon their faces, and adored
God, saying: Amen. Benediction, and glory, and
wisdom, ana thanksgiving, honour, and power, and
strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL. Matt. v. 1, 12. At that time: Jesus
seeing the multitude, went up into a mountain, and
when he was set down, his disciples came unto him.
And opening his mouth he taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit ; for theirs is the King-
dom of heaven. Blessed are the meek ; for they shall
possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn ; for
they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger
and thirst after justice ; for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful ; for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart; for they shall see Goa.
Blessed are the peace makers ; for they shall be called
the children of God. Blessed are they that suffer per-
cution for justice sake ; for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you,
and persecute you, and speak all mat is evil against
you untruly, for my sake ; be glad and rejoice, for your
reward is very great in heaven. Credo.
COMMEM. of the FAITHFUL departed.
2ND NOVEMBER.
EPISTLE. 1 Cor . xv. 51, 57. Brethren: Behold
I tell you a mystery : We shall all indeed rise again ;
but we shall not all be changed. In a moment/m the
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COMMEM* OF THE FAITHFUL. 471
twinkling of an eve, at the last trumpet: for the
trumpet shall souna, and the dead shall rise again in-
corruptible ; and we shaU be changed. For this cor-
ruptible must put on incorruption ; and this mortal
must put on immortality. And when this mortal hath
put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying
that is Written : Death is swallowed up in victory . O
grave , where is thy victory ? O death , where is thy
sting 1 Now the sting of death is sin, and the
strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God,
who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.;
GOSPEL. John v. 25, 29. At that time: Jesus
said to the multitude of the Jews : Amen, amen, I say
unto you, that the hour cometh, and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they
that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in
himself ; so he hath given to the Son also to have life
in himself : and he hath given him power to do judg-
ment, because he is the Son of man. Wonder not at
this, for the hour cometh wherein all that are in the
grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And
they that have done good things shall come forth unto
the resurrection of life : but they that have done evil
unto the resurrection of judgment.
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COMMON OF SAINTS.
FOR THE VIGIL OF AN APOSTLE,
VHICH MAY BE READ ON THE FESTIVAL DAT.
LESSON. Eccles. xliv. and xlv. The blessing of
the Lord is on the head of the righteous man. There-
fore did the Lord give him an inheritance, and assign
him a part among the twelve tribes ; and he found
grace m the sight of all flesh. And he made him
great to the terror of his enemies, and by his words he
tamed monsters. He rendered him glorious in the
presence of kings, and gave him his commandments in
the sight of his people, and showed him his iglory.
For his faith and meekness he sanctified him, and
made choice of him among all flesh : and publicly
gave him his precepts, and the law of life and disci-
pline, and highly exalted him. He settled with him
an eternal covenant, and encompassed him with the
firdle of righteousness: and the Lord hath put on
im a crown of glory.
GOSPEL. John xv. 12, 16. At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : This is my commandment,' that
you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater
love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his
life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do
the things that I command you. I will not now call
you servants ; for the servant knoweth not what his
lord doth. But I have called you friends : because all
things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have
made known to you. You have not cnosen me : but I
have chosen you ; and have appointed you that you
should go, and should bring fortn fruit : and your fruit
should remain : that whatsoever you shall ask of the
Father in my name, he may give it you.
Of a MARTYR and BISHOP.
EPISTLE. James i. 12, 18. Dearly beloved:
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation ; for when
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OP A MARTYR NOT A BISHOP. * 473
he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life
which God hath promised to them that love him. Let
no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by
God. For God is not a tempter of evils, and he tempt-
eth no man. But every man is tempted by his own
concupiscence, being drawn away and allured. Then
when concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth
sin. But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death.
Do not err therefore, my dearest brethren. Every best
gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no
change, nor shadow of alteration. For of his own will
hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we
might be some beginning of his creatures.
GOSPEL. Luke xiv. 26, 33. At that time : Jesus
said to his disciples : If any man come to me, and hate
not his father, and mother, and wife, and children,
and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he
cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not carry
his cross and come after me, cannot be my. disciple.
For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth
not first sit down and reckon the charges that are
necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it :
lest, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able
to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him, saying :
This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Or, what king about to go and make war against ano-
ther king, doth not first sit down and think whether
he be able with ten thousand, to meet him that with
twenty thousand cometh out against him. Or else,
whilst the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy,
he desireth conditions of peace. So likewise every one
of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth,
cannot be my disciple.
Of a MARTYR not a BISHOP.
LESSON. Wisd. x. 10, 14. The Lord conducted
the just man through the right ways, and showed him
the kingdom of God, and gave him the Jtnowledge of
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OF MANY MARTYRS.
474
the holy things : made him honourable In his labours,
and accomplished his labours. In the deceit of them
that oyer-reached him, she stood by him, and made
him honourable. She kept him safe from his enemies,
and she defended him from seducers, and gave him a
strong conflict, that he might overcome, ana know that
wisdom is mightier than all. She forsook not the just
when he was sold, but delivered him from sinners: she
went down with him into the pit, and in bands she left
him not, till she brought him the sceptre of the king-
dom, and power against those that oppressed him : and
showed them to be liars that accused him, and gave
him everlasting glory.
GOSPEL. Matt . x. 34, 42. At that time : Jesus
said to his disciples : Do not think that I came to send
peace upon earth : I came not to send peace, but the
sword. For I came to set a man at variance against
his father, and the daughter against her mother, and
the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And
a man’s enemies against they of his own household.
He that loveth his father ana mother more than me, is
not worthy of me : and he that loveth son or daughter
more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that
taketh not up his cross, and followeth me, is not worthy
of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it : and he
that shall lose his life for me, shall find it. He that
receiveth you, receiveth me ; and he thatreceiveth me,
receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a pro-
phet in the name of a prophet, shall receive the reward
of a prophet : and he that reeeiveth a just man in the
name of a just man, shall receive the reward of a just
man. Ana whosoever shall give to drink to one of
these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name
of a disciple, amen, 1 say to you, he shall not lose bis
reward.
Of MANY MARTYRS.
EPISTLE. 1 Peter i. 3, 7. Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to
his great mercy hath regenerated us into a lively hope,
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OF A CONFE880R NOT A BISHOP. 475
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto
an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that
cannot fade, reserved in heaven for you, who by the
power of God are kept by faith unto salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time. Wherein you shall greatly
rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sor-
rowful in divers temptations ; that the trial of your faith
(much more precious than gold which is tried by the
fire) may be found unto praise, and glory, and honour,
at the appearing of Jesus Christ our Lord.
GOSJPEL. 'John xv. 5, 11. At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : I am the vine, you the branches :
he that abidetk in me, and I in him, the same beareth
much fruit : for without me you can do nothing. If
any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a
branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up,
and cast him into the fire, and he burneth. If you
abide in me, and my word abide in you, you shall ask
whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you. In
this is my Father glorified ; that you bring forth very
much fruit, and become my disciples. As the Father
hath loved me, I also have lovea you. Abide in my
love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide
in my love ; as I also have kept my Father’s command-
ments, and do abide in his love. These things have I
spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, ana your joy
may be filled.
Of a CONFESSOR and BISHOP.
LESSON and GOSPEL, as in page 79.
Of a CONFESSOR not a BISHOP.
LESSON. Eccl . xxxi. 8, 11. Blessed is the man
that is found without blemish ; and that hath not gone
after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.
Who is he, ana we will praise him, for he hath done
wonderful things in his life. Who hath been tried
thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlast-
ing. He that could have transgressed, and hath not
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476 OF A VIRGIN AND MARTYR.
transgressed : and could do evil things, and hath not
done them. Therefore are his goods established in the
Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his
alms.
GOSPEL. Luke xii. 35, 40. At that time: Jesus
said to his disciples : Let your loins be girt, and lamps
burning in your hands, and you yourselves like to men
who wait for their lord, when he shall return from their
wedding ; that when he cometh and knocketh, they
may open to him immediately. Blessed are those ser-
vants, whom the lord, when he cometh, shall find
watching: Amen, I say to you, that he will gird him-
self, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will
minister unto them. And if he shall come in the se-
cond watch, or come in the third watch, and find
them so, blessed are those servants. But this know ye,
that if the householder did know at what hour the thief
would come, he would surely watch, and would not
suffer his house to be broke open. Be you then also
ready : for at what hour you think not, the Son of man
will come.
Of a VIRGIN and MARTYR.
LESSON. Eccles. li. 1, 8. I will give glonr to
thee, O Lord, my Kingj, and I will praise thee, O God,
my Saviour. I will give glory to thy name, for thou
hast been a helper and protector to me, and hast pre-
served my body from destruction, from the snare of an
unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge
lies, and in the sight of them that stood by, thou hast
been my helper. And thou hast delivered me accord-
ing to tne multitude of the mercy of thy name, from
the roaring lions, that were ready to devour me. Out
of the hands of them that sought my life, and from
the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about :
from the oppression of the flame which surrounded
me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt. From
the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean
tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king,
and from a slanderous tongue: my soul shall oraise tne
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OF MANY VIRGINS AND MARTYRS. 477
Lord even to death, because thou succourest those that
trust in thee, and deliverest them from the hands of the
Gentiles, O Lord our God.
GOSPEL. Matt, xxv. 1, 13. At that time : Jesus
spoke to his disciples this parable : The kingdom of
heaven shall be like to ten virgins, who taking their
lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.
And five of them were foolish, and five wise. But the
five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil
with them : but the wise took oil in their vessels with
the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all
Numbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry
made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to
meet him. Then all those virgins arose ana trimmed
their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise : Give
us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise
answered, saying : Lest perhaps there be not enough
for us and for you, go you rather to them that sell,
and buy for yourselves. Now whilst they went to buy,
the bridegroom came : and they that were ready, went
in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
But at last came also the other virgins, saying : Lord,
Lord, open to us. But he answered, saying: Amen, 1
say to you, I know you not. Watch ye therefore, be-
cause you know not the day nor the hour.
Of many VIRGINS and MARTYRS.
EPISTLE. 1 Cor, vii. 25, 34. Brethren : Con-
cerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord :
but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the
Lord to be faithful. I think therefore, that this is
good for the present necessity, for a man so to be. Art
iou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou
loosed from a wife ? seek not a wife. But if thou take
a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry,
she hath not sinned : nevertheless, such shall have tri-
bulation of the flesh. But I spare you. This there-
fore I say, brethren : the time is short : it remaineth,
that they also who have wives, be as if they had none ;
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OF HOLY WOMEN.
478
find they that weep, as though they wept not ; and they
that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not : and they that buy,
as though they possessed not ; and they that use this
world, as if they used it not : for the fashion of this
world passeth away. But I would have you to be with-
out solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous
for the things that belong to the Lord, now he may
please God. But he that is with a wife, is solicitous
tor the things of the world, how he may please his wife ;
and he is divided. And the unmarried woman and the
virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord : that she
may be holy both in body and spirit, in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
GOSPEL. Matt . xxv. 1, 13, as in page 92 .
Of a VIRGIN only.
EPISTLE. 2 Cor. x. 17 ; xi. 1, 2. Brethren: Let
him that glorieth, glory in die Lord : for not he that
commendeth himself is approved ; but he whom God
commendeth. [Chap. xi.J Would to God you could
bear with some little of my folly : but do bear with
me. For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of
God. For I have espoused you to one husband, mat
I mav present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 1, 13, as in page 02.
Of HOLY WOMEN.
LESSON. Prov. xxxi. 10. Who shall find a valiant
woman? the price of her is as of things brought from
afar off, and from the uttermost coasts. The heart of
her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need
of spoils. She will render him good and not evil, all
the days of her life. She hath sought wool and flax,
and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. She is
like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from
afar. And she hath risen in the night, and given prey
to her household, and victuals to her maidens. Shie
hath considered a field, and bought it : with the firoit
of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. She hath
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OF HOLY WOMEN.
479
girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened
er arm. She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is
good : her lamp shall not be put out in the night. She
hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers
have taken hold of the spindle. She hath opened her
hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the
poor. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of
snow, for all her domestics are clothed with double gar-
ments. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry ;
fine linen and purple is her covering. Her husband is
honourable in the gates, where he sitteth among the
senators of the land. She made fine linen and sold it,
and delivered a girdle to the Chananite. Strength and
beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the
latter day. She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and
the law of clemency is on her tongue. She hath looked
well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her
bread idle. Her children rose up, and called her
blessed : her husband, and he praised her. Many
daughters have gathered together riches : thou hast
surpassed them all. Favour is deceitful, and beautv
is vain : the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall
be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and
let her works praise her in the gates.
GOSPEL. Matt . xiii. 44, 62. At that time : Jesus
spoke to his disciples this parable : The kingdom of
heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field. Which
a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth,
and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant
seeking good pearls. Who when he had found one
pearl of great price, went his way, and sold all that he
had, and bought it. Again the kingdom of heaven is
like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together
of all kinds of fishes. Which, when it was filled they
drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the
good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth. So shall
it be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out,
and shall separate the wicked from among the just.
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480 DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
And shall cast them into the furnace of fire ; there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have you
understood all these things ? They say to him : Yes.
He said unto them : Therefore every scribe instructed
in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a man who is a
householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure
new things and old.
ANNIVERSARY MASS of the DEDICATION
of a CHURCH.
LESSON. Rev . xxi. 2, 5. In those days : I John
saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out
of heaven, from God, prepared as a bride adorned for
her husband. And I heard a great voice from the
throne, saving : Behold the tabernacle of God with
men, and he will dwell with them. And they shall be
his people : and God himself with them shall be their
God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes : and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor
crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former
things are passed away. And he that sat on the
throne said : Behold I make all things new.
GOSPEL. Luke xix. 1, 10. At that time: Jesus
entering in, he walked through Jericho. And behold
there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of
the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see
Jesus, who he was, and he could not, for the crowd, be-
cause he was low of stature. And running before he
climbed up into a sycamore tree that he might see him :
for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus was
come to the place, looking up he saw him, and said to
him : Zacheus, make haste and come down : for this
day I must abide in thy house. And he made haste
and came down, and received him with ioy. And
when all saw it, they murmured, saying : that he was
S>ne to be a guest with a man that was a sinner.
ut Zacheus standing said to the Lord : Behold,
Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor : and if
I have wronged any man of any thing, I restore him
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MASS FOR THE DEAD.
481
four-fold. Jesus said to him : This day is salvation
come to this house ; because he also is a son of Abra-
ham. For the Son of man is come to seek .and to
save that which was lost. Credo.
FOR THE DEAD — On the day of Decease or Burial.
EPISTLE. 1 These, iv. 12, 17. Brethren : We will
not have you ignorant concerning them that are asleep,
that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no
hope. For if we believe that J esus died and rose again,
even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God
bring with him. For this we say unto you in the word
of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto
the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who
have slept. For the Lord himself shall come down
from heaven with commandment : and with the voice
of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God : and
the dead who are in Christ, shall rise first. Then we
who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together
with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air,
and so shall we be always with the Lord. Wherefore
comfort ye one another with these words.
GOSPEL. John xi. 21, 27. At that time: Martha
said to Jesus : Lord, if thou hadst been here, my bro-
ther had not died. But now also I know that wnatso-
ever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus
saith to her : Thy brother shall rise again. Martha
saith to him : I know that he shall rise again in the
resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her : 1 am
the resurrection and the life ; he that believeth in me,
although he be dead, shall live. And every one that
livetb, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever. Be-
lievest thou this? She saith to him : Yea, Lord, I have
believed that thou art Christ the Son of the living God,
who art come into this world.
2 s
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INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONS
FOR
CONFIRMATION.
Confirmation is a sacrament instituted by otir Lord
Jesus Christ, to enable ns to arrive at the state of perfect
Christians, and to strengthen the spiritual life of grace
which we received at baptism. It is called Confirmation ,
from its effect, which is to confirm and fortify those who
receive it with the necessary dispositions, in the possession
of the true faith, to arm them against their spiritual
enemies, and to complete and finish in them the sanctifi-
cation which baptism had begun. In baptism we receive
the character of the children of God ; in confirmation we
receive the strength of men, and the character of the soldiers
of Jesus Christ, says St. Melchiades. In baptism we are
enlisted under the standard of Christ crucified ; in confir-
mation we are armed with the shield of faith, and enabled
to combat against the devil, the world, and the flesh. In
baptism we are regenerated, and receive the sanctifying
grace of God for the remission of sins ; in confirmation we
are prepared for a spiritual warfare, and receive the Holy
Ghost tor a force and corroboration, that we may stand
firm in the divine service, for the sake of Christ, with a
holy vigour of spirit and constancy of mind, amidst the
terrors of the severest trials and persecutions.
The effects of this sacrament appear visibly, not only
in thousands of holy martyrs, but also in the apostles,
who, after they had been confirmed on Whitsunday, by the
Holy Ghost coming down upon them, were immediately
changed into new men, and were animated by this Divine
Spirit to that degree, that sufferings for the sweet name
of Jesus became the subject of their glory. It is evident
from Acts, viii. and xix., that the apostles practised con-
firmation, as a means to communicate the graces and gifts
of the Holy Ghost to the faithful. It is of confirmation
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONFIRMATION. 483
also that St. Paul makes mention , Heb. vi. 1, 2 , and
2 Cor. i. 21, 22, where he expressly says: Now he who
confirmeth us with you in Christ , and hath anointed us ,
is God ; who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest
of the Spirit in our hearts.
The testaments of the most ancient writers plainly
show, that the church of God, from the apostles’ days, has
always believed confirmation to be a sacrament of the
new law, and administered it as such. Among the rest,
St. Clement, a contemporary of the apostles, says, chap.
4, that he received this doctrine from St. Peter and other
apostles ; and therefore he exhorts all, without delay, to
hasten to be signed by the bishop, that they may receive
the seven-fold grace of the Holy Ghost, since he cannot
be a perfect Christian who wilfully neglects this sacrament.
Tertullian, St. Fabian, and St. Melchiades, who flourished
in the second, third, and fourth centuries; St. Cyprian,
St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, &c. have handed down the same
doctrine: and St. Augustine, cont. lit. Petil. 2, c. 104, says
in express terms, u The sacrament of chrism in the kind
of visible seals, is sacred and holy, even as baptism itself.”
Moreover, it is plain from the 8th chapter of the Acts
of the Apostles, ver. 14, that the visible sign of the impo-
sition of hands has annexed to it an invistble grace, viz.
the imparting of the Holy Ghost. Consequently, confir-
mation is a sacrament, as it has all things necessary to
constitute a sacrament, and is a visible sign of an invisible
grace , fyc.
The ordinary minister of this sacrament is a bishop only ;
and it was for this reason that St. Peter and St. John^ who
were both bishops, were sent to confirm the Samaritans,
who had been converted and baptised by Philip^ the deacon ;
which is an additional proof, that confirmation is a holy
sacrament, and not a mere ceremony, as Calvin pretends ;
for were it only a ceremony that they had administered,
why did not Philip, the deacon, who baptised the Samari-
tans, use that ceremony P Where was the necessity of
sending two bishops to Samaria, as the apostles didP —
Acts, viii.
As water is made use of in baptism, so chrism is used
in confirmation. Chrism is a sacred ointment, composed
of oil of olives and balsam (or balm ) of Gilead, solemnly
blessed by a bishop on Holy Thursday. The unction, or
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484 INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONFIRMATION.
outward anointing with chrism , represents the inward
anointing of the soul with the gifts of the Holy Ghost; as
the outward ablution with water in baptism, denotes the
inward washing of the soul by the sanctifying grace of God.
The oil, whose properties are to assuage our pains, to for-
tify the limbs, and to give a certain vigour to the body, re-
presents the spiritual effects of the grace of this sacrament
in the soul ; and the balm, which is of a sweet smell, and
whose property is to preserve bodies from putrefaction, re-
presents the good odour or sweet savour of Christian virtues
with which we are to edify our neighbours after having
received this sacrament. The form of words used in con-
ferring this sacrament is this : I sign thee with the sign
of the cross , I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation ,
in the name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the
Holy Ghost . Whilst the bishop pronounces the form, he
makes the sign of the cross with the holy chrism, upon the
forehead of each person that is to be confirmed, to give
them to understand, that no worldly fear or shame is to
deter them from confessing Christ crucified ; but that they
are openly to profess the doctrines and maxims of his
gospel, and live as becomes members of his church in spite
of the ill example and corrupt maxims of the world. Hence
Tertullian says, lib. 1. adv. Marc. “ The flesh is anointed,
that the soul may be consecrated. The flesh is signed,
that the soul may be fenced. The flesh, by the imposition
of hands, is shadowed, that the soul, by the spirit, may
be illuminated.” — This is what the bishop prays for, when
turning himself towards those that are to be confirmed,
with his hands joined before his breast, he says, May the
Holy Ghost come down upon you and the power of the
Most High keep you from all sins. — Amen. A little
blow is given on the cheek to the persons confirmed, to im-
print in their minds, that they are to be ready to bear with
meekness and patience, all crosses, persecutions, trials,
affronts, and injuries, for the sake and glory of their Lord
and Master J esus Christ. At the same time the bishop
says, Peace be with thee , to signify that the true peace of
God, which, as St. Paul says, exceeds all understanding ,
is chiefly to be found in patient suffering for God and his
truths. Lastly, the bishop prays for those who have been
confirmed, that the Holy Ghost may ever dwell in their
hearts, and make them temples of his glory. After which
he dismisses them with his messing, &c.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOB CONFIRMATION. 485
Q. Can this sacrament of confirmation be received more
than once ?
A. No ; because, like baptism, it imprints an indelible
character or spiritual mark in the soul, which always
remains.
Q. Is there any spiritual kindred contracted in confir-
mation ?
A. Yes ; the godfather or the godmother contracts the
same spiritual kmdred as in the sacrament of baptism.
Q. Is confirmation absolutely necessary to salvation ?
A. It is not so necessary but that a person may be saved
without it ; yet, when a favourable opportunity offers for
receiving it, it would be certainly a sin to neglect so power-
ful a help to salvation, and deprive ourselves of the benefit
of this holy sacrament, which our blessed Redeemer was
mercifully pleased of his infinite goodness to institute, as
the never-failing means in his church to communicate his
divine spirit to his followers. It would be a still more
grievous crime to neglect confirmation through contempt,
disregard, or want of faith. It is to a wilful neglect of this
sacrament that the holy fathers attribute the downfall of
several apostates from the true religion.
Q. What kind of persons stand most in need of the
grace of this sacrament P
A. Those who are most exposed to temptations against
faith, or to persecutions upon account of their religion.
Q. At what age may a person be confirmed P
A. Ordinarly speaking, the church does not give con-
firmation to children before they are seven years old ; but
defers it till they come to the use of reason, and are suf-
ficiently instructed and prepared. Fathers and mothers
should take care to have them carefully instructed in the
Christian doctrine, and regularly prepared to be presented
to the bishop for confirmation at the proper time, before
they have received the Blessed Eucharist. If their chil-
dren be lost through ignorance, they shall answer for it
to God.
Q* What are the dispositions necessary for receiving
the sacrament of confirmation worthily P
^ Person must be free from the guilt of mortal sin,
and in the state of grace ; for the holy spirit of wisdom
will not enter into a malicious soul , nor dwell in a body
subject to sins. — Wisd, i. 4. He must also be well in-
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486 INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONFIRMATION.
stnicted in the principles of the Christian faith, according
to his age and capacity, and have a proper sense of what
he is doing.
Q. In what manner then must a person prepare himmJf
for confirmation P
A. First, he must examine his conscience diligently, and
if he find it charged with wilful sin, he must take care to
purge it by a good sacramental confession ; for it would be
a grievious sacrilege to presume to receive the sacrament
of confirmation, knowingly in the state of mortal sin. —
Secondly, he must prepare himself some days before by
devout and humble prayer, frequently and fervently calling
upon God to dispose his soul for receiving the Holy Ghost,
who communicates his gracious gifts and favours in pro-
portion to the dispositions with which they are received.
Q. As confirmation is ordained for the sanctification of
souls, why do not all who receive it become saints P
A. The fault is entirely their own. God on his part is
ready to bestow all the graces necessary to enable them to
become saints ; but, alas ! how few are disposed to improve
and co-operate with them as they might and ought ! How
few make the proper use of them ! How many on the con-
trary resist them, like the stiff-necked J ews ! How many
contristrate and extinguish the divine spirit, as the apostle
expresses it ! How many banish this heavenly guest from
the temple of their souls by falling into mortal sin, and thus
obstruct the operation of this holy sacrament !
Q. Is a person obliged to receive the sacrament of con-
firmation fasting p
A. No. There is no strict obligation or precept for it,
though to fast on the eve and day of confirmation is a lau-
dible custom, and conformable to the practice of the
primitive church.
Q. Why are the fervent exercises of piety and devotion
required before confirmation P
A. For two reasons : First, because our Saviour has
assured us that his heavenly Father will give his good spirit
to them that ask it, — Luke, xi. 13. Secondly, in imita-
tion of the apostles, who, during the ten days between the
ascension of our Lord and the descent of the Holy Ghost
at Penticost, retired from the noise and tumults of the
world, and continued with one accord in prayer, with Mary
the Mother of Jesus, and with his bretnera. — Acts, i. 14.
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DEVOTIONS FOR CONFIRMATION. 487
Q. Why are we to invoke the Holy Ghost in parti-
cular ?
A. Not that we are to neglect praying to the Father and
the Son also, as we know that all the three persons are but
one and the same God ; but because the work of our sancti-
fication, the pouring down the grace of God into our souls,
and all the heavenly favours and helps that are necessary
for conducting us in the way of salvation, are the effects
of the divine love, and are by a peculiar approbation attri-
buted in a special manner to the operation of the Holy
Ghost, as it is the love of the Father and of the Son, and
as it is from God’s love that all grace, all virtue and sanc-
tification, flow and proceed.
▲ PRAYER BEFORE CONFIRMATION.
O God of infinite goodness and bounty, who
has been pleased, at my baptism, to make me a
Christian, to sanctify my soul with thy grace,
and to honour me with the glorious title of thy
child ; which, alas ! for my part, I have so
wretchedly corresponded with, and have even
forfeited a thousand times by my sins : behold,
notwithstanding all my ingratitude, and my re-
peated treasons, which thou hast so long and so
patiently endured, thou art still pleased, not
only to invite me to return to thee, and to offer
me thy mercy, but also to call upon me at this
time, to come and present myself, in order to
receive the greatest of all thy gifts, even thine
own most Holy Spirit; to be consecrated to
thee by his unction ; to be made a strong
and perfect Christian, and a soldier of thy
Son. O may all heaven and earth praise
thee, bless thee, and glorify thee for ever, for
all thy mercies, goodness, and bounty to
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488 DEVOTIONS FOE CONFIRMATION.
me. And now, dearest Lord, I desire to
come, because such is thy will and my duty,
to receive this great sacrament of Confirma-
tion ; that I may like thy apostles, be baptised
with the Holy Ghost , and be endowed with
power from on high ; and like them be changed
by divine grace, into another man, in such
manner as henceforward to live up to the
dignity, and to fulfil every part of the duty
of a soldier of Christ! and to preserve and
mantain even to death, that purity and sanc-
tity which become the temple of the living
God. But, O my God, how far am I from
being worthy to approach this heavenly sa-
crament ! How can I expect that thy Holy
Spirit should come into my inward house, to
make it his temple, which has been so long
possessed by unclean spirits? Where are the
dispositions in me, which the apostles brought,
and which all Christians ought to bring along
with them, to the receiving of the Holy Ghost P
0 ! I acknowledge myself infinitely unworthy ;
1 confess and detest from the bottom of my
heart, all my past uncleanness and abomina-
tions ; I humbly crave thy mercy and pardon,
through Jesus Christ thy Son ; and beg, through
him, that thou wilt be pleased to cleanse my
soul from all its filth with his precious blood,
and to give me thy grace to come to this
sacrament with that humility, faith, and de-
votion, which is most agreeable to thee. O
Divine Spirit, do thou prepare my soul for
thyself ! Behold, I come, desiring to give up
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DEVOTIONS FOR CONFIRMATION. 489
myself to thee for all time and eternity, that
thou mayest ever live and reign in my soul ;
and O let my whole soul henceforward be per-
petually subject to thee, and let nothing in
me ever more rebel against thee. Amen.
Those who are preparing themselves for the sacrament of
Confirmation, may likewise breathe forth, from time to
time, the following short Ejaculations:
Come, Holy Ghost, who replenisheth the
hearts of the faithful, descend into my soul,
and make it the place of thy abode.
Come, O Divine Spirit, take full possession
of my heart, and kindle in it the fire of thy
divine love.
Enter into my soul and abide there for ever,
to be my light, my guide, and my strength.
Come, Holy Ghost, with all thy gifts, and
fill my soul ; enlighten, direct, and conduct
me in all my ways. Strengthen me against
all the assaults of self-love, remove from me
all vicious shame, and inspire me with a
Christian courage.
O grant that I may make the gospel the
rule of my life. Preserve me from the cor-
ruption of sin, and from the pernicious maxims
of the world. Give me grace, O God, to do
thy will in all things. Enlighten my eyes,
O Lord, that I may never sleep in death.
O uncreated fire, when wilt thou consume
whatever is imperfect in my soul.
Inebriate my soul with thy holy love, O
thou sovereign beauty.
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490 DEVOTIONS FOB CONFIRMATION.
O may I never forget the obligations that
are contracted, by being enlisted a disciple of
the cross, in the sacrament of confirmation.
O grant that I may ever have before my
eyes the duties thereunto annexed, and that
I may live henceforward according to the
spirit of a true and perfect Christian.
M Short escalations of this kind, frequently darted from
an humble and fervent heart, penetrate the clouds, pierce
the paternal heart of the Father of Mercies, and draw down
an ample benediction on those pious souls to whom they be-
come familiar by practice and habit; this manner of prayer
is highly commended by the saints, and was one of the
principal excercises by which the ancient solitaries arrived
at the highest perfection. It has this peculiar advantage,
that one can practise it at all times, on all occasions, ana
in the midst of external employment, without being ex-
posed to the danger of vain glory , as it is secretly performed
m the closet of the heart. It is short and easy, does not
distract or fatigue the mind, but keeps up the fervour of the
spirit, and attention to the divine presence.”
A PRAYER AFTER CONFIRMATION.
O my God, I now desire to adore thee,
bless thee, and glorify thee, for ever, for all
thou hast done for me, and for thy whole church,
both of heaven and earth. I would now gladly
join both my heart and my voice with all
thy angles and saints in heaven, and with all
that fear thee and love thee on earth, in
giving perpetual praise to thee for thy infi-
nite goodness, and in particular for that love
thou hast shown to me this day. I give thee
thanks from the bottom of my heart, for hav-
ing sent down the Holy Spirit into my soul,
with all his gifts and graces. O let him now
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DEVOTIONS FOR CONFIRMATION. 491
take full possession of my soul ; let this heavenly
unction penetrate into the very centre of my
interior ; let his divine wisdom ever preside
there, may it ever enlighten me with Ins gifts
of understanding , and dispel all my darkness :
may it direct me with his counsel , strengthen
me with his fortitude , instruct me with his •
knowledge , make me ever fervent in all goody
with his piety and godliness and let his divine
fear ever restrain me from evil. And now, dear
Lord, since thou hast been pleased, by this
sacrament, to consecrate and sanctify my soul
for thyself, and to make it thy temple, he
pleased also to drive far from it, by thy grace,
all that may violate or profane it, or render it
any ways disagreeable to thy eyes. O keep it
for ever for thyself, and restrain Satan from
ever entering into it any more. O let it he a
house of prayer , in which thou mayest he ever
worshipped, in spirit and in truth , and suffer
it not to he made any more a den of thieves .
Give me grace also to fulfil, with perfection,
every branch of the duty of thy soldier , — which
glorious title thou hast conferred on me this
day: arm me completely for the warfare in
which I am happily engaged, and stand by me
in all my conflicts, to crown me with victory.
O make me faithful unto death , and bring me
safe through all the dangers of my mortal
pilgrimage, to the crown of everlasting life :
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
N. B. — Here repeat the Hymns , “ Creating Spirit, come possess
and, “ Come, Holy Ghost, send down those beams,” which are in-
serted , with the Latin , at the end , under the head of JVhit- Sunday.
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THE PSALTER OF JESUS.
‘‘ There is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we
must be saved.”— Acts. iv. 12.
This Psalter is divided into three Parts ; each part con-
sisting of five Petitions, and each Petition prefaced by
a tenfold repetition of the sacred name of Jesus. As
it is not to be run over in too hasty a manner, but per-
formed with the utmost reverence and recollection, the
whole may he said without interruption ; or, each Part
at three distinct periods of time ; according to the leisure
which persons may find, after discharging the indis-
pensable duties of their several states and conditions of
life.
FIRST PART.
“ At the name of J ESUS let every knee bend, both in heaven, oa
earth, and under the earth ; and let every tongue acknowledge that
the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.” — Phtl. ii.
THE FIRST PETITION.
Jesus ! ( repeated ten times ) thou God of
compassion, have mercy on me, and forgive the
many and great offences I have committed in
thy sight Many have been the follies of my
life, and great are the miseries I have deserved
for my ingratitude. Have mercy on me, dear
Jesus, for I am weak ; heal me, O Lord, for
I am unable to help myself. Deliver me from
an inordinate affection for any of thy creatures,
which may divert my eyes from incessantly
looking up to thee. For the love of thee, grant
me henceforth the grace to hate sin, and out
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of a just esteem of thee, to despise all worldly
vanities.
Have mercy on all sinners, I beseech thee,
dear J esus ; turn their vices into virtues ; and
making them sincere lovers of thee, and
observers of thy law, conduct them to bliss
in everlasting glory. For the sake of thy
glorious name Jesus, and through the merits
of thy hitter passion, have mercy also on the
souls in purgatory. O blessed Trinity, one
eternal God, have mercy on me. Our Father.
Hail, Mary.
THE SECOND PETITION.
Jesus ! ( repeated ten times ) help me to
overcome all temptations to sin, and the malice
of my ghostly enemy. Help me to spend my
time in virtuous actions, and in such labours
as are acceptable to thee. Enable me to resist
and repel every inordinate emotion of sloth,
gluttony, and carnality. Render my heart
enamoured of virtue, and inflamed with desires
of thy glorious presence. Help me to merit
and preserve a good name by a peaceable and
pious life, to thy honor, O Jesus ! to my own
comfort, and the edification of others.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. as in the first
petition . Our Father. Hail Mary.
THE THIRD PETITION.
Jesus ! ( repeated ten times') grant me effec-
tual strength of soul and body, to please thee
in the performance of such virtuous actions as
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PSALTER OF JESUS.
may bring me to tby everlasting joy and feli-
city. Grant me, 0 most merciful Saviour, a
firm purpose to amend my life, and to make
atonement for the years past ; those years,
alas ! which I have lavished, to thy displeasure,
in vain or wicked thoughts, evil words, deeds,
and habits. Make my heart obedient to thy
will, and ready, for thy love, to perform all the
works of mercy. Grant me the gifts of the
Holy Ghost, which, through a virtuous life,
and a devout frequenting of thy most holy sa-
craments, may at length conduct me to thy
heavenly kingdom.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. Our Father.
Hail Mary.
THE FOURTH PETITION.
Jesus ! (repeated ten times) comfort me, and
grant me grace to fix in thee my chief joy and
only felicity ; inspire me with heavenly medi-
tations, spiritual sweetness, and fervent desires
of thy glory ; ravish my soul with the contem-
plation of heaven, where I hope to dwell ever-
lastingly with thee. Bring thy unspeakable
goodness to my frequent recollection, and let
me always with gratitude remember thy gifts ;
but when thou bringest the multitude of the
sins whereby I have so ungratefully offended
thee, to sad remembrance, comfort me with the
assurance of pardon ; and by the spirit of true
penance purging away my guilt, prepare me
for the possession of thy heavenly kingdom.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. Our Father.
Hail Mary.
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THE FIFTH PETITION.
Jesus ! {repeated ten times ) make me con-
stant in faith, hope, and charity. Grant me
perseverance in virtue, and a resolution never
to offend thee. May the memory of thy passion,
and of those bitter pains thou didst suffer for
my sake, fortify my patience, and refresh my
soul under every tribulation and adversity.
Render me a strenuous professor of the Catholic
faith, and a diligent frequenter of my religious
duties. Let me not be blinded by the delights
of a deceitful world, nor my fortitude shaken
by internal frauds or carnal temptations. My
heart has for ever fixed its repose in thee, and
resolved to contemn all things for thine eternal
reward.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. Our Father.
Hail Mary.
The Lord Jesus " Christ, for our sakes, be-
came obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross.” — Phil . ii.
Hear these petitions, O most merciful Saviour,
and grant me the grace frequently to repeat
and consider them, that they may serve as so
many easy steps, whereby my soul may ascend
to thy knowledge and love, and to a diligent
performance of my duty to thee and my neigh-
bour, through the whole course of my life. —
Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe in God.
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PSALTER OF JESUS.
SECOND PART.
Begin as before, saying, “ At the name of Jesus let
every knee bend, both in heaven, on earth, and under the
earth,” &c., as in part the first, page 492.
THE SIXTH PETITION.
Jesus ! ( repeated ten times') enlighten me
with a spiritual wisdom, whereby I may arrive
at a knowledge of thy goodness, and of every
thing which is most acceptable to thee. Grant
me a perfect apprehension of my only good,
and a discretion to regulate my life accordingly.
Grant me wisely to proceed from virtue to
virtue, till at length I enjoy a clear sight of thy
glory. Forbid it, dear Lord, that I return to
the sins of which I accused myself at the tri-
bunal of confession. Let others be edified by
my pious example, and my enemies mollified
by my good counsel.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c., as before ,
page 493. Our Father. Hail Mary.
THE SEVENTH PETITION.
Jesus ! ( repeated ten times ) grant me grace
inwardly to fear thee, and avoid every occasion
whatsoever of offending thee. Let the threats
of the torments prepared for sinners, the dread
of the loss of thy love and of thy heavenly in-
heritance, always keep me in awe. Suffer me
not to slumber in sin, but rather rouse me to
repentance, lest through thine anger I may be
overtaken by the sentence of eternal wrath,
and endless damnation. Let the powerful in-
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tercession of thy blessed mother, and of all
thy saints, hut above all, thine own merits
and mercy, serve as a rampart between my
poor soul and thy avenging justice. — Enable
me, O my God ! to work out my salvation with
fear and trembling, and the apprehension of
thy sacred judgments. Make me a more hum-
ble and diligent suitor to the throne of thy
mercy.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
THE EIGHTH PETITION.
Jesus! ( repeated ten times ) grant me the
grace truly to love thee, for thine infinite good-
ness, and those excessive bounties I have
received, or shall ever hope to receive from
thee. Let the recollection of thy benignity
and patience conquer the malice and wretched
propensity of my perverse nature. May the
consideration of the many deliverances, fre-
quent calls, and continual helps, I have received
from thee during the course of my life, make
me blush at my ingratitude. Ah, what return
dost thou require of me for all thy mercies, but
that I love thee ! And why dost thou require
it ? Because thou art my only good ! — thou art
my dear Lord ! the sole object of my life ; and
I will diligently keep thy commandments, be-
cause I truly love thee.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
THE NINTH PETITION.
Jesus ! ( repeated ten times') grant me the
grace always to remember my latter end, and
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PSALTER OF JESUS.
the account I am to give in after death ; that
so my soul may be always well disposed, and
ready to depart out of this life in thy grace and
favour. At that important hour, by the powerful
intercession of thy blessed mother, the glorious
assistance of St. Michael, and my good angel,
rescue my poor soul, O Lord, from the snares
of the enemy of my salvation. Remember then
thy mercy, O dear Jesus! and hide not thy
face from me on account of my offences. Secure
me against the terrors of that awful period, by
causing me now to die daily to all earthly
things, and to have my conversation continually
in heaven. Let the remembrance of thy death
teach me to set a just value on life ; and the
memory of thy resurrection encourage me to
descend cheerMly to the grave.
Have mercy, &c. Our F ather. Hail Mary.
THE TENTH PETITION.
Jesus ! ( repeated ten times ) send me my
purgatory in this life, and thus prevent me from
being tormented in the cleansing fire which
awaits those souls who have not been suffici-
ently purified in this world. Vouchsafe to
grant me those merciful crosses and afflictions
which thou seest necessary for weaning my
affections from things here below. Suffer not
my heart to find any repose but in sighing after
thee, since no one can see thee, who loves any
thing which is not for thy sake. Too bitter,
alas ! will be the anguish of the soul that
desires to be united to thee, and whose sepa-
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ration is retarded by the heavy chains of sin.
Keep me then, O my Saviour, continually
mortified in this world, that being purified
thoroughly with the fire of thy love, 1 may
pass from hence to the immediate possession
of thee in everlasting glory.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. &c. as at the
conclusion of the fifth petition, page 495.
THIRD PART.
Begin as before, saying, “ At the name of Jesus let
every knee bend,” &c., page 492.
THE ELEVENTH PETITION.
Jesus ! ( repeated ten times') grant me grace
to avoid bad company ; or, if 1 should chance
to come in the midst of such, preserve me from
being infected with the least temptation to
mortal sin, through the merits of thine uncor-
rupt conversation among sinners. Art thou
not always present, O Lord ? and wilt thou
not take an exact account of all our words
and actions, and judge us accordingly ? How
then dare I converse with liars, slanderers,
drunkards, or blasphemers ; or with such whose
discourse is either vain, quarrelsome, or dis-
solute?— Repress in me, dear Jesus, every
inordinate affection to carnal pleasures, and
to delights of taste ; and strengthen me by thy
grace to avoid such company as would enkindle
the flames of those unruly appetites. May thy
power, thy wisdom, and thy fatherly compas-
sion defend, direct, and chastise me ; and cause
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PSALTER OF JESUS.
me to lead such a life here amongst men, as
may qualify me hereafter for the conversation
of angels.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
THE TWELFTH PETITION.
Jesus! ( repeated ten times) grant me the
grace to call on thee for help in all my necessi-
ties, and frequently to remember thy death and
resurrection. Wilt thou he deaf to my cries,
who hast laid down thy life for my ransom ?
or canst thou not save me, who took it up
again for my crown? Call on me in the day
of trouble , and I will deliver thee . Whom
have I in heaven but thee, O my Jesus ! from
whose blessed mouth issued such balmy words?
Thou art my sure rock of defence against all
mine enemies, and my gracious assistant in
every good work. I will, then, invoke thee
with confidence in all my trials and afflictions,
and when thou hearest me, O Jesus ! thou wilt
have mery on me.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
THE THIRTEENTH PETITION.
Jesus! ( repeated ten times) enable me to
persevere in a virtuous life, and never to grow
weary in thy service till thou rewardest me
in thy kingdom. In pious customs, holy duties,
and in all honest and necessary employments,
continue, O Lord, to strengthen me, both in
soul and body. My life is nothing on earth
but a pilgrimage towards the heavenly Jeru-
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salem, to which he that sits down, or turns
out of the way, can never arrive. May 1
always, O Jesus ! follow thy blessed example.
With how much pain, and how little pleasure,
didst thou press on to a bitter death, that
being the assured way to a glorious resur-
rection. Let me frequently meditate on those
severe words of thine : He only that perseveres
to the end shall he saved.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
THE FOURTEENH PETITION.
Jesus ! ( repeated ten times') grant me grace
to fix my mind on thee, especially whilst I
converse with thee in time of prayer. Check
the wanderings of my fanciful brain, put a stop
to the desires of my fickle heart, and suppress
the power of my spiritual enemies, who at that
time endeavour to withdraw my mind from
heavenly thoughts to vain imaginations. Thus
shall I joyfully look on thee as my deliverer
from all evil, and thank thee as my benefactor
for all the good I have received, or hope to
obtain. I shall be convinced that thou art my
chief good, and that all other things were
ordained by thee only as the means of en-
gaging me to fix my affections on thee alone ;
that by persevering till death in thy love and
service, I might be eternally happy. Let all
my thoughts, O beloved of my soul! be ab-
sorbed in thee, that my eyes being shut to
all vain and sinful objects, may become worthy
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PSALTER OF JESUS.
to behold thee face to face in thy everlasting
glory.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
THE FIFTEENTH PETITION.
Jesus! ( repeated ten times) grant me the
grace to order my life with reference to my
eternal welfare, sincerely intending, and wisely
referring all the operations of my soul and body
towards obtaining the reward of thy infinite
bliss and eternal felicity. For what else is this
world but a school for the tutoring of souls
created for eternal happiness in the next?
And how are they educated but by an anxious
desire of enjoying God, their only end ? Break
my froward spirit, O J esus ! by the reins of
humility and obedience. Grant me grace to
depart hence with the most sovereign contempt
of this world, and with a heart overflowing
with joy at the thoughts of going to thee.
Let the memory of thy passion make me cheer-
fully undergo every temptation or suffering in
this state of probation, for love of thee ; whilst
my soul, in the mean time, languishes after that
life of consummate bliss and immortal glory,
which thou hast prepared for thy servants in
heaven* O Jesus ! let me frequently and atten-
tively consider, that whatsoever I may gain,
if I lose thee, all is lost ; and that whatever I
may lose, if I obtain thee, all is gained.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c., as in page
493.
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THE BLESSED NAME OF JESUS.
*
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips, and my
tongue shall declare thy praise.
Incline unto my aid, O God.
O Lord, hasten to help me.
Glory he to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost ;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and
will he for ever. Amen.
THE FIVE MYSTERIES OF THE FIRST PART.
I. — The Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE MEDITATION.
The Son of God assumes human flesh, of
the pure hlood of the blessed Mary ever virgin,
and is made man in her womb.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.
[Ten time 8.] Glory he to the Father, &c.
II. — The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE MEDITATION.
The Saviour of the world is horn for our
redemption ; his mother remaining a virgin.
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THE ROSARY OF JESUS.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.
[Ten times.] Glory, &c.
III. — The Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ .
THE MEDITATION.
Our Saviour being eight days old, begins
to suffer for our sins, and his blood already
flows for us. He is circumcised according to
the law, as if he had been himself a sinner.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.
[Ten time 8,] Glory, &c.
IV. — Our Lord Jesus Christ is found in the Temple.
THE MEDITATION.
Our Saviour being twelve years old, shows
himself more than mortal, by his knowledge
and wisdom, teaching the very teachers of the
Jews.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.
[Ten times.] Glory, &c.
V. — The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE MEDITATION.
The Saviour of the world is baptised by St.
f John. The eternal Father declares him to be
his Son.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.
[Ten times.] Glory, &c.
THE PRAYER.
O J esus ! whose name is above all names ;
that in the name of Jesus every knee may
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bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth,
and in hell ; who, at the time appointed by
the eternal wisdom, assumedst flesh in the
womb of the blessed Mary, ever virgin, and
thus became the Son of David, whose birth
gladdened men and angels ; who began so early
to suffer for us, and to shed, on our account,
that blood that washeth away the sins of the
world ; whose eternal wisdom appeared at the
age of twelve years ; to whose baptism all
heaven was attentive ; grant to us to celebrate
those mysteries to thy honour and our own
salvation s who with the Father and the Holy
Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, for all
eternity. Amen.
THE FIVE MYSTERIES OF THE SECOND PART.
I. — Our Saviour washeth his Disciples1 feet.
THE MEDITATION.
Our Saviour, to show us an example of
humility, and how much we ought to serve
each other, descended so low as to wash the
feet of his disciples, though he is the God whom
heaven and earth adore.
O Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, have
mercy on us. [Ten times .] Glory, &c.
II. — The Prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ in the
Garden .
THE MEDITATION.
Our Saviour, knowing his passion to be now
at hand, is so affected with the thoughts of it,
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THE EOSARY OF JESUS.
and so oppressed with the load of our sina,thttt
he prays to his almighty Father, that the hitter
cup might pass away from him.
O Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,
have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
III. — Our Saviour is apprehended.
THE MEDITATION.
Our Saviour, as if he had been no more
than mortal, yields to the power of men, and
permits himself, for our redemption, to be ap-
prehended, as if he were a malefactor.
0 Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,
have mercy on us. [Ten times. j Glory, &c.
IV. — Our Saviour carries his Cross .
THE MEDITATION.
Our Saviour, being tom with scourges, and
pierced with thorns, to expiate our sins, is
compelled to carry the cross on which he is
to die, and moves on in anguish and sorrow
towards the place of his execution.
O Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,
have mercy on us. [Ten times .] Glory, &c.
V. — The Descent of our Saviour into Sell.
THE MEDITATION.
The soul of our Saviour being separated by
death from the body, descends to that place
where the saints were expecting their redemp-
tion.
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THE ROSARY OF JESUS. 507
O Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,
have mercy on us. [Ten times,] Glory, &c.
THE PRAYER.
O Jesus, whose name is above all names ;
that at the name of Jesus every knee may
bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth,
and in hell ; whose mysterious humiliation and
sorrows, appointed for thee on account of our
sins, appeared in the washing of the feet of
thy servants and creatures, in thy distress,
and prayer, and bloody sweat; in thy being
secured and brought before tribunals as a cri-
minal ; in thy bearing the load of the cross,
and in the separation of thy soul from the
body, and its descent to the regions below :
grant to us to celebrate these mysteries to thy
honour and our own salvation ; who, with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest,
one God, for all eternity. Amen.
THE FIVE MYSTERIES OF THE THIRD PART.
I. — The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ .
THE MEDITATION.
The soul of our Lord Jesus Christ, which had
been separated from the body, is re-united to
it, by a miracle of the Almighty power ; and
that body, which had been dead, rises to die
no more.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy
on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
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THE ROSARY OF JESUS.
II. — The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ .
THE MEDITATION.
The body of our Lord J esus Christ ascends
to the highest heaven, where the Saviour of
mankind sitteth at the right hand of God, the
almighty Father.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy
on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
III. — Our Lord Jesus Christ sends down the Holy
Ghost .
THE MEDITATION.
Our Saviour, now seated at the right hand
of God, his almighty Father, sends down the
Holy Ghost, to inspire and animate his disciples,
that they may be qualified to publish to man-
kind his cross and his glory.
O J esus, Son of the living God, have mercy
on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
IV. — Our Lord Jesus Christ crowning the blessed Virgin
and Saints.
THE MEDITATION.
Our Saviour, having by his passion, re-
surrection, and ascension, opened the way for
the sons of Adam to heaven, which they had
lost by sin, bestows on his Mother and his
saints a crown of immortal glory.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy
on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
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V . — Our Lord Jesus Christ coming to judge Mankind .
THE MEDITATION.
Our Saviour will come in power and majesty,
to judge tlie living and the dead, and to return
to every one according to his works.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy
on us. [Ten times. ] Glory, &c.
THE PRAYER.
O Jesus, whose name is above all names ;
that at the name of Jesus every knee may
bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth,
and in hell ; whose body, that was murdered
by mankind, the Almighty raised from death,
glorious and immortal ; who, by thy ascension,
triumphed over death, and led captivity cap-
tive ; who, according to thy promise, sent
down the Spirit, that proceedeth from the
Father and the Son, the comforter and the
enlivener ; who, stretching forth the bounty of
thy almighty hand, shed upon the chosen
children of Adam, that glory that neither eye
hath seen, nor ear hath heard, nor hath it
entered into the heart of man ; and who will
come forth in power and majesty, to judge the
living and the dead, before whose throne all
mortals will appear : grant to us to celebrate
these mysteries to thy honour, and our own sal-
vation; who, with the Father and the Holy
Ghost, livest and reignest one God for all
eternity. Amen.
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THE ROSARY OF
“ N.B. — The repeating of the above prayers or medita-
tions, is not absolutely necessary. Those who cannot
read or medidate on the mysteries, let them say the Creed
beforehand in this Rosary, and in that of the blessed
Virgin.
u The devotions belonging to this Rosary, or the Rosary
of the blessed Virgin, do not bind under sin.
“ N. B. — Those who are in the Society of the Rosary of
the name of Jesus, may have the same plenary indulgence
on New Year’s Day, that is granted in the year of the
Jubilee.
u On every second Sunday in the month,
“ At the time of being received into the Society,
u At the article of death,
u And on each day of the fifteen mysteries.”
THE ROSARY
or
THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
*
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Vera . Hail, Mary, full of grace, our Lord
is with thee :
Reap, Blessed art thou amongst women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Vera . Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips.
Reap . And my tongue shall announce thy
praise.
Vera . Incline unto mine aid, O God.
Reap . O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost :
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As it was in the beginning, is now, and
ever shall . be, world without end. Amen.
Alleluia .
[From the Septuagesima to Easter , instead
of Alleluia, say: Praise be to thee, O Lord,
King of eternal glory.]
PART THE FIRST.
THE FIVE JOYFUL MYSTERIES,
To be said on all Mondays and Thursdays, the Sundays of
Advent, and after Epiphany till Lent.
I. — The Annunciation.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
the angel Gabriel saluted our blessed Lady
with the title of “ Full of Grace f and declared
unto her the incarnation of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ.
Then say , Our Father, &c. once ; and Hail
MaTy, &c. ten times .
[When the u Hail Mary” is repeated a tenth time, the
Decade finishes with, u Glory be to the Father.” &c. ;
then follows the Prayer. Which method is to be observed
in beginning, and saying each part of the Rosary.]
LET US PRAY.
O holy Mary, Queen of virgins, through
the most high mystery of the incarnation of thy
beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, by means
of which the work of our salvation was so
happily begun, obtain for us, by thine interces-
sion, light to be sensible of so great a benefit,
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THE ROSARY OF
which he hath bestowed upon us ; vouchsafing
thereby to make himself our brother, and thee,
his only beloved mother, our mother also.
Amen.
II. — The Visitation .
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the
blessed Virgin Mary, understanding from the
angel that her cousin, St. Elizabeth, had con-
ceived, went with haste into the mountains of
Judea, to visit her, and remained with her
three months.
Our Father, &c.
LET US PRAY.
O holy Virgin, most spotless mirror of
humility, by that exceeding charity which
moved thee to visit thy holy cousin, St.
Elizabeth, obtain for us, by thine interces-
sion, that our hearts may be visited by thy
most holy Son, that being free from all sin,
we may praise and give him thanks for ever.
Amen.
III. — The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem .
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the
blessed Virgin Mary, when the time of her
delivery was come, brought forth our Redeemer,
Jems Christ, at midnight , and laid him in a
manger , because there was no room for him
in the inns at Bethlehem.
Our Father, &c.
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LET US PRAY.
O most pure Mother of God, by tby virginal
and most joyful delivery, in which thou gavest
unto the world thine only Son, our Saviour,
we beseech thee obtain for us, by thine in-
tercession, grace to lead such pure and holy
lives in this world, that we may worthily
sing without ceasing, both day and night,
the mercies of thy Son, and his benefits to
us by thee. Amen.
IV. — The Oblation of our blessed Lord in the Temple .
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
the most blessed Virgin Mary, on the day
of her purification, presented the child Jesus
in the temple, where holy Simeon, giving
thanks to God with great devotion, received
him into his arms.
Our Father, &c.
LET US PRAY.
O holy Virgin, most admirable mistress,
and pattern of obedience, who didst present
in the temple the Lord of the temple, obtain
for us of thy beloved Son, that, with holy
Simeon and devout Anna, we may praise
and glorify him for ever. Amen.
V. — The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple .
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
the blessed Virgin Mary having lost, with-
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514 THE ROSARY OF
out any fault of hers, her beloved Son in
Jerusalem, she sought him for the space of
three days, and at length found him the |
fourth day in the temple, in the midst of the
doctors, disputing with them, being of die
age of twelve years. Our Father, &c.
LET US PRAY.
Most blessed Virgin, more than martyr
in thy sufferings, and yet the comfort of such
as are afflicted, by that unspeakable joy
wherewith thy soul was ravished, at finding
thy beloved Son in the temple, in the midst
of the doctors, disputing with them, obtain
of him for us, so to seek him and find him
in the holy Catholic Church, that we may
never be separated from him. Amen.
THE SALVE REOINA.
Hail! holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our
life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee
do we cry, poor banished sons of Eve. To
thee do we send up our sighs, mournings,
and weepings, in this valley of tears. Turn,
then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of
mercy towards us, and after this our exile
ended, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy
womb, Jesus, O clement, O pious, O sweet
Virgin Mary.
Vers . Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
Keep. That we may be made worthy of
the promises of Christ.
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THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
515
LET US PRAY.
O God, whose only begotten Son, by his
life, death, and resurrection, has purchased
for us the rewards of eternal life, grant we
beseech thee, that meditating upon those
mysteries, in the most holy Rosary of the most
blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what
they contain, and obtain what they promise:
through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
PART THE SECOND.
THE FIVE DOLOROUS MYSTERIES,
To be said on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the Year,
and on Sundays in Lent.
I. — The Prayer and Bloody Sweat of our Blessed Saviour
«• in the Garden .
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
our Lord Jesus was so afflicted for us in
the Garden of Gethsemani, that his body was
bathed in a bloody sweat, which ran trickling
down in great drops to the ground.
Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory, &c.
as before .
LET US PRAY.
Most holy Virgin, more than martyr, by
that ardent prayer which thy most beloved Son
poured forth unto his Father in the Garden,
vouchsafe to intercede for us, that our pas-
sions being reduced to the obedience of
reason, we may always, and in all things,
conform and subject ourselves to the will of
God. Amen.
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516
THE ROSARY OF
II. — The Scourging of our Biased Lord at the Pillar.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how oar
Lord Jesus Christ was most cruelly scourged
in Pilate's house, the number of stripes they
gave him being above five thousand. [As it was
revealed to St. Bridget.] Our Father, &c.
LET US FRAY.
O Mother of God, overflowing fountain
of patience, by those stripes thine only and
most beloved Son vouchsafed to suffer for us,
obtain of him for us grace, that we may know
how to mortify our rebellious senses, and cut
off all occasions of sinning, with that sword
of grief and compassion which pierced thy most
tender soul. Amen.
III. — The Crowning of our Blessed Saviour with
Thoms.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
those cruel ministers of Satan platted a crown
of sharp thorns, and most cruelly pressed it on
the most sacred head of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Father, &c.
LET US PRAY.
O Mother of our eternal Prince and King
of Glory, by those sharp thorns wherewith his
holy head was pierced, we beseech thee, that
by thine intercession we may be delivered here
from all motions of pride, and in the day of
judgment from that confusion which our sins
deserve. Amen.
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THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
51T
IV. — Jesus carrying the Cross.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
our Lord Jesus Christ being sentenced to die,
bore, with the most amazing patience, the
cross which was laid upon him for his greater
torment and ignominy. Our Father, &c.
LET US PRAY.
O holy Virgin, example of patience, by the
most painful carrying the cross, on which thy
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ bore the heavy
weight of our sins, obtain of him for us by
thine intercession, courage and strength to
follow his steps, and bear our cross after him
to the end of our lives. Amen.
V. — The Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our
Lord and Saviour J esus Christ, having arrived
at Mount Calvary, was stripped of his clothes,
and his hands and feet most cruelly nailed to
the cross, in the presence of his most afflicted
mother.
Our Father, &c.
LET US PRAY.
O holy Mary, mother of God, as the body
of thy beloved Son was for us extended on the
cross, so may our desires be daily more and
more stretched out in his service, and our hearts
wounded with compassion for his most bitter
passion. And thou, O most blessed Virgin,
graciously vouchsafe to help us to accomplish
2x
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518
THE ROSARY OF
the work of our salvation, by thy powerful
intercession. Amen.
Hail, holy Queen, &c. with the verse and
prayer as before .
PART THE THIRD.
THE FIVE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES,
Assigned for Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the
Year, and Sundays from Easter until Advent.
I. — The Resurrection of Christ from the Dead,
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
our Lord Jesus Christ, triumphing gloriously
over death, rose again the third day, immortal
and impassable.
Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory,
&c., as before .
LET US PRAY.
O glorious VirginMary, by that unspeak-
able joy thou receivedst in the resurrection of
thine only Son, we beseech thee to obtain of
him for us, that our hearts may never go astray
after the false joys of this world ; hut may be
ever and wholly employed in the pursuit of the
only true and solid joys of heaven. Amen.
II. — The Ascension of Christ into Heaven .
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
our Lord Jesus Christ, forty days after his
resurrection, ascended into heaven, attended
by angels, in the sight of his most holy Mother,
his holy apostles and disciples, to the great
admiration of them all.
Our Father, &c.
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THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
519
LET US PRAY.
O mother of God, comfort of the afflicted,
as thy beloved Sod, when he ascended into
heaven, lifted up his hands and blessed his
apostles, so vouchsafe, most holy Mother, to
lift up thy pure hands to him for us, that we
may enjoy the benefits of his blessing and thine,
here on earth, and hereafter in heaven. Amen.
III. — The coming of the Holy Ghost to the Disciples .
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
our Lord Jesus Christ, being seated at the right
hand of God, sent, as he had promised, the
Holy Ghost upon the apostles, who, after he
was ascended, returning to Jerusalem, con-
tinued in prayer and supplication with the
blessed Virgin Mary, expecting the perform-
ance of his promise.
Our Father, &c.
LET US PRAY.
O sacred Virgin, tabernacle of the Holy
Ghost, we beseech thee, obtain by thine inter-
cession, that this most sweet Comforter, whom
thy beloved Son sent down upon his apostles,
filling them thereby with spiritual joy, may
teach us in this world the true way of sal-
vation, and make us walk in the paths of
virtue and good works. Amen.
IV. — The Assumption of the B. V . M. into Heaven .
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the
glorious Virgin, twelve years after the resur-
rection of her Son, passed out of this world
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520
THE ROSARY OF, ETC.
unto him, and was by him taken into heaven,
accompanied by the holy angels.
Our Father, &c.
LET US PEAY.
O most prudent Virgin, who entering into
the heavenly palace, didst fill the holy angels
with joy, and man with hope, vouchsafe to
intercede for us at the hour of death, that free
from the illusions and temptations of the
devil, we may joyfully and successfully pass
out of this temporal state, to enjoy the hap-
piness of eternal life. Amen.
V. — The Coronation of the B.V.M. in Heaven .
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how
the glorious Virgin Mary was, with great
jubilee, and exultation of the whole court of
heaven, and the particular glory of all the
saints, crowned by her Son with the brightest
diadem of Glory.
Our Father, &c.
LET US PRAY.
O glorious Queen of all the heavenly
citizens, we beseech thee to accept this Rosary,
which, as a crown of roses, we offer at thy
feet ; and grant, most gracious Lady, that by
thine intercession, our souls may be inflamed
with so ardent a desire of seeing thee so
gloriously crowned, that it may never die in
us, until it be changed into the happy fruition
of thy blessed sight Amen.
Hail, holy Queen, &c., with the verse and
prayer as before .
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TE DEUM;
A Hymn which may be said after Mass , or on occasion
of any public or private Thanksgiving,
Thee, sovereign God, our grateful accents praise,
We own thee Lord, and bless thy wondrous ways ;
To thee, eternal Father, earth’s whole frame
With loudest trumpet sounds immortal fame.
Lord God of hosts ! to thee the heavenly pow’rs
With sounding anthems, fill thy vaulted tow’rs ;
The Cherubim thrice holy, holy, cry, 'J
Thrice holy, all the Seraphim reply, v
And thrice returning echoes endless songs supply. J
Both heaven and earth thy majesty display ;
They owe their beauty to thy glorious ray.
Thy praises fill the loud apostles’ choir ;
The train of prophets in the song conspire ;
Legions of martyrs in the chorus shine ;
And vocal blood with vocal music join.
By these thy church, inspir’d with heavenly att,
Around the world maintains a second part.
And tunes her sweetest notes, O God, to tnee.
The Father of unbounded majesty,
The Son, ador’d co-partner of thy seat,
And equal everlasting Paraclete.
Thou King of glory. Christ ; of the Most High,
Thou co-eternal filial Deity.
Thou who, to save the world’s impending doom,
Vouchsafedst to dwell within a virgin’s womb ;
Old tyrant death disarm’d, before tnee flew
The bolts of heav’n, and back the foldings drew,
To give access, and make the faithful way ;
From God’s right hand thy filial beams display.
Thou art to judge the living and the dead ;
Then spare those souls for whom thy veins have bled.
O take us then among the blest above,
To share with them thy everlasting love.
Preserve, O Lord, thy people, and enhance
Thy blessing on tnine own inneritance :
For ever raise their hearts, and rule their ways :
Each day we bless thee, and proclaim thy praise.
No age shall fail to celebrate thy name,
Nor hour neglect thy everlasting fame.
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522 THE THIRTY DAYS’ PRAYER.
Preserve our souls, O Lord, this day from ill,
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy still.
As we have hop’d, do thou reward our pain.
We’ve hop’d in thee, let not our hope be vain.
V. Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost.
R. Let us praise and extol him for ever.
The Prat ee, Deus cujus .
O God, of whose mercies there is no num-
ber, and of whose goodness the treasure is
infinite, we humbly thank thy most gracious
majesty for the favours thou hast bestowed on
us ; ever beseeching thy clemency, that as thou
grantest our requests when we. humbly ask
thee, so thou wouldst not forsake us, but dis-
pose us for the rewards of the life to come.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
THE THIRTY DAYS’ PRAYER
TO THE B. V. MARY, IN HONOUR OF THE SACRED PA88ION OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST;
By the devout recital of which for the above space of time, we may
mercifully hope to obtain our lawful request. — It is particularly
recommended as a proper devotion for every day in Lent, and all
the Fridays throughout the Year.
Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of
Virgins, Mother of Mercy, hope and comfort
of dejected and desolate souls; through that
sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart,
whilst thine only son, Christ Jesus our Lord,
suffered death and ignominy on the cross ;
through that filial tenderness and pure love he
had for thee, grieving in thy grief, whilst from
his cross he recommended thee to the care and
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THE THIRTY DAYS’ PRAYER. 523
protection of his beloved disciple St. John; take
pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and neces-
sities; have compassion on my anxieties and
cares ; assist and comfort me in all my infirmi
ties and miseries, of what kind soever. Thou
art the mother of mercies, the sweet consolatrix
and only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of
the desolate and the afflicted. Cast, therefore,
an eye of pity on a miserable, forlorn child of
Eve, and hear my prayer ; for since, in just pun-
ishment for my sins, I find myself encompassed
by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with
much anguish of spirit, whither can I fly for
more secure shelter, O amiable Mother of my
Lord and Saviour J esus Christ, than under the
wings of thy maternal protection? Attend,
therefore, I beseech thee, with an ear of pity
and compassion, to my humble and earnest re-
quest. I ask it through the bowels of mercy of
thy dear Son, through that love and condescen-
sion wherewith he embraced our nature, when,
in compliance with the divine will, thou gavest
thy consent, and whom, after the expiration of
nine months, thou didst bring forth from the
chaste enclosure of thy womb, to visit this
world, and bless it with his presence. I ask it
through that anguish of mind wherewith thy
beloved Son, our dear Saviour, was overwhelmed
on Mount Olivet, when he besought his eternal
Father to remove from him , if possible, the
hitter chalice of his future passion. I ask it
through the threefold repetition of his prayers
in the garden, from whence afterwards with
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524 THE THIRTY DAYS’ PRAYER.
dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou didst
accompany him to the doleful theatre of his
death and sufferings. I ask it through the welts
and sores of his virginal flesh, occasioned by the
cords and whips wherewith he was hound and
scourged, when stripped of Ms seamless gar-
ment, for which Ms executioners afterwards cast
lots. I ask it through the scoffs and ignomi-
nies by wMch he was insulted ; the false accu-
sation and unjust sentence by wMch he was
condemned to death, and wMch he bore with
heavenly patience. I ask it through his bitter
tears and bloody sweat, Ms silence and resig-
nation, his sadness and grief of heart. I ask it
through the blood wMch trickled from his royal
and sacred head, when struck with a sceptre of
a reed, and pierced with Ms crown of thorns.
I ask it through the excrutiating torments he
suffered when Ms hands and feet were fastened
with gross nails to the tree of the cross. I ask
it through Ms vehement tMrst, and bitter potion
of vinegar and gall. I ask it through his dere-
liction on the cross, when he exclaimed : u My
God ! my God ! why hast thou forsaken me r*
I ask it through his mercy extended to the good
tMef, and through his recommending his pre-
cious soul and spirit into the hands of his eternal
Father before he expired, saying : “ All is
finished.” I ask it through the blood mixed
with water, wMch issued from Ms sacred side,
when pierced with a lance, and whence a flood
of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it
through his immaculate life, bitter passion, and
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THE THIRTY DAYS' PRAYER. 525
ignominious death on the cross, at which nature
itself was thrown into convulsions, by the burst-
ing of rocks, rending of the veil of the temple,
the earthquake, and darkness of the sun and
moon. I ask it through his descent into hell,
where he comforted the saints of the old law
with his presence, and led captivity captive.
I ask it through his glorious victory over death,
when he arose again to life on the third day ;
and through the joy which his appearance for
forty days after, gave thee, his blessed Mother,
his apostles, and the rest of his disciples, when,
in thme and their presence, he miraculously
ascended into heaven. I ask it through the
grace of the Holy Ghost, infused into the hearts
of the disciples, when he descended upon them
in the form of fiery tongues, and by which
they were inspired with zeal in the conversion
of the world, when they went to preach the
gospel. I ask it through the awful appearance
of thy Son at the last dreadful day, when he
shall come to judge the living and the dead,
and the world, by fire. I ask it through the
compassion he bore thee in this life, and
the ineffable joy thou didst feel at thine
assumption into heaven, where thou art eter-
nally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of
his divine perfections. O glorious and ever
blessed Virgin! comfort the heart of thy
suppliant, by obtaining it for me* And as I
• Here mention, or reflect on your lawful reouest, under the re-
servation of its being agreeable to the ♦rill of Goa, who sees whether
it will contribute towards your spiritual good.
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526 THE THIRTY DAYS1 PRAYER.
um persuaded my divine Saviour doth honour
thee as his beloved Mother, to whom he can
refuse nothing ; so let me speedily experience
the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, ac-
cording to the tenderness of thy maternal
affection, and his filial, loving heart, who
mercifully granteth the requests, and complieth
with the desires of those that love and fear
him. Wherefore, O most blessed Virgin, besides
the object of my present petition, and whatever
else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also,
of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively
faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition
of heart, unfeigned tears of compunction,
sincere confession, condign satisfaction, absti-
nence from sin, love of God, and my neighbour,
contempt of the world, patience to suffer affronts
and ignominies, nay, even, if necessary, an
opprobrious death itself, for the love of thy Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ. — Obtain likewise
for me, O Sacred Mother of God! perseverance
in good works, performance of good resolutions,
mortification of self will, a pious conversation
through life, and at my last moments, strong
and sincere repentance, accompanied by such a
lively and attentive presence of mind, as may
enable me to receive the last sacrament of the
Church worthily, and die in thy friendship and
favour. Lastly, obtain, I beseech thee, for
the souls of my parents, brethren, relations,
and benefactors, both living and dead, life
everlasting. Amen.
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HYMNS FOR FESTIVALS.
Hymn for Advent .
Alma Redemptoris Mater,
quae pervia cceli porta
manes,
Et Stella maria, succurre
cadenti ;
Surgere qui curat populo ;
tu quae genuisti,
Natura mirante tuum sanc-
tum genitorem :
Virgo prills ac poster-ids,
Gabrielis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccato-
rum miserere.
V. Angelus Domini nun-
tiavit Mariae.
R. Et concepit de Spiritu
Sancto.
Hymn for
Adeste fi delis,
Laeti triumph antes,
Venite, venite in Bethle-
hem:
Natem videte
Regem Angelorum :
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus Dominum.
Deum de Deo,
Lumen de Lumine,
Gestant puellae viscera ;
Deum verum,
Genitum non factum :
Venite adoremus,
Venite, &c.
Digiti
Mother of Jesus, heaven’s
open gate,
Star of the Sea, support the
falling state
Of mortals : thou, whose
womb thy maker bore,
And yet, strange thing! a
virgin as before ;
Who didst from Gabriel’s
hail ! the news receive,
Repenting sinners by thy
prayers relieve.
V. The angel of the Lord
declared to Mary.
R. And she conceived of
the Holy Ghost.
Christmas .
Y e faithful souls, rejoice and
sing;
To Bethlehem your trophies
bring,
Before the new-born Angel’s
King :
Come let us him adore,
Come, &c.
True God of God, true Light
of Light,
Born in womb of Virgin
bright ;
Begot, not made; true God
of might :
Come let us him adore,
Come, &c.
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528
HYMNS FOR FESTIVALS.
Cantet nunc Io,
Chorus angelorum ;
Cantet none aula ccelestium,
Gloria
In excelsis Deo :
Venite adoremus,
Yenite, &c.
Ergo qui nAtus
Die hodierna,
Jesu tibi sit gloria :
Pafcris ©terni
Verbum caro factum :
Yenite adoremus,
Venite, &c.
Angelic choirs with joy now
smff,
The heavenly courts with
echoes ring.
Glory on hign to God our
king:
Come, let us him adore,
Come, &c.
Jesus, whose life this day
begun,
TheFather’s co-eternal Son :
Glory to him be ever sung :
Come, let us him adore,
Come, &c.
Hymn for Passion-Sunday , and Palm- Sunday.
Vexilla regis prodeunt,
Fulget crucis mysterium :
Qu& vita mortem protulit,
Et morte vitam protulit.
Quse vulnerata lance©
Mucrone diro, criminum
Ut nos lavaret fordibus,
Manavit undk et sanguine.
Impleta sunt qu© concinit,
David fideli carmine,
Dicendo nationibus :
Regnavit & ligno Deus.
Behold the royal ensigns
fly?
Bearing the cross’ mystery :
Where life itself did death
endure,
And by that death did life
procure.
A cruel spear let out a flood
Of water, mixed with Savina
blood:
Which, gushing from the
Saviour 8 side,
Drown’d our offences in the
tide.
The mystery we now unfold,
Which David’s faithful verse
foretold.
Of our Lord’s kingdom ;
whilst we see
God ruling nations from a
tree.
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HYMNS FOR FESTIVALS. 529
Arbor decora et fulgida, O lovely tree, whose branches
wore
Oraata regis purpura ! The royal purple of his goreJ
Electa digno stipite, How glorious does thy oody
shine,
Tam sancta membra tan- Supporting members so di-
gere !
Beata, oujus brachiis,
Pretihm pependit saeculi,
Statera facta corporis,
Tulitque preedam tartar i.
O Crux, ave spes unica,
Hoc passionis tempore !
Piis ad auge gratiam,
Reisque dele crimina.
Te, fons salutis Trinitas,
Collaudit omnis spiritus .
Quibus crucis victoriam,
Largiris, adde premium. Who conquer by the cross
Amen. below. Amen.
V. Eripe me, Domine, V. Deliver me, O Lord,
ab homine malo. from the wicked man.
R. A viro iniquo eripe R. And from the unjust
me. man deliver me.
Hymn for Good- Friday,
(Plaint of the Blessed Virgin.)
Stabat mater dolorosa Beneath the world’s re-
deeming wood,
Juxta crucem lacrymosa, The most afflicted Mother
stood,
* i
vine !
The world’s blest balance
thou wast made,
Thy happy beam its purchase
weighed,
And bore his limbs, who
snatch’d away
Devouring hell’s expected
prey.
Hail Cross, our hope ! on
thee we call,
Who keep this mournful
festival :
Grant to the just increase of
grace,
And ev’ry sinner’s crimes
efface.
BlestTrinity,we praises sine
To thee, from whom afl
graces spring,
Celestial crowns on those
bestow,
530 HYMNS FOR
Dum pendebat Alius.
Cujus animara gementem
Contristatara et dolentem
Pertransivit gladius.
O quam tristis et afllicta,
Fuit ilia benedicta
Mater unigeniti.
Quse merjebat, et dolebat,
Pia mater dum videbat,
Nati pcenas inclyti.
Quis est homo, qui nonfleret,
Christi matrem si videret
In tanto supplicio P
Quis non posset contristari,
Piam matrim contemplari
Dolentem cum Alio P
Pro peccatis suee gentis
Yidit Jesum in tormentis,
Et Aagellis subditum.
Yidit suum dulcem natum
Morientem, desolatum,
FESTIVALS.
Mingling her tears with her
Son’s blood.
As that flow’d down from
every part,
Of all his wounds she felt the
smart;
What pierc’d his body,
pierc’d her heart.
Who can with tearless eyes
look on,
When Mary does, alas ! -be-
moan
Wounded and faint, her only
Son.
O worse than Jewish heart,
that could,
Unmov’d, behold the doable
flood
Of Mary's tears, and JesuJs
blood.
Alas! our sins, they were
not his
In this atoning sacriflce,
For which he bleeds, lor
which he dies.
When graves were open’d
rocks were rent,
When nature and each ele-
ment
His torments and her grief
resent.
Shall man, the cause of all
his pain
And all his grief, shall sinful
man
Alone insensible remain P
Ah, pious mother, teach
my heart,
Of sighs and tears the holy
art,
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HYMNS FOB FESTIVALS. 531
Dam emisit spiritum.
Eia, mater fbns amor is,
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac ut tecum lugeam,
Fac ut ardeat cor meum,
In amando Christum De-
um.
Ut siDi eomplaceam.
Sancta mater istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas,
Cordi meo valide.
Tui nati vulnerari,
Tam dignati pro me pati
P Genas mecum divide.
Fee me vere tecum flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
Donee ego vixero.
J uxta crucem tecum stare,
Te libenter sociare,
In planctu desidero.
Virgo virginum praeclara,
Mihi jam non sis amara,
Fac me tecum plangere.
Digith
And in thy grief to bear a
part.
The sword of grief, which
did pass through
Thy very soul, O may it now
Upon my heart a wound be-
stow.
Great Queen of sorrows, in
thy train
Let me a mourner’s place
obtain,
Let me thy Jesus love again.
To heal the leprosy of sin,
We must the cure with tears
All lesk’s corrupt without
their brine.
Refuge of sinners, grant that
we
May tread thy steps, and let
it be
Our sorrow not to grieve like
thee.
O may the wounds of thy
dear Son,
Our contrite hearts possess
alone.
And all terrene affections
drown.
Those wound 8, which now
the stars outshine,
Those furnaces of love di-
vine.
May they our drossy souls
refine ;
And on us such impressions
make,
That we of suff’ring for his
sake,
May joyfully ,our portion
take.
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532
HYMNS FOR FESTIVALS.
Fac ut portem Chris ti Let os his proper badge pot
mortem, on,
Passionis fac consortem, Let’s glory in the cross alone,
Et plagas recolere. By which he marks ns for his
own.
Fac me plagis vulnerari, That when the dreadful
trial’s come,
Cruce hac inebriari, For every man to hear his
doom,
Ob amorem filii. On his right hand we may
find room.
Inflammatus et accensus, O hear us, Mary ! Jesus,
hear !
Per te virgo sim defensus Our humble pray’rs ; secure
our fear,
In die judicii. When thou in judgmentshalt
appear.
Fac me cruce custodiri, Now give us sorrow, give
us love,
Morte Christi prsemuniri That so prepar’d we may
Confoveri gratia. remove,
Quando corpus morietur When call’d to seats of bliss
above. Amen.
Fac ut animse donetur
Paradisi gloria.
Y. Tuam insius animam Y. A sword has pierced
pertransivit gladius. thy own soul.
R. Ut revelentur ex mul- R. That the thoughts of
tis cordibus cogitationes. many hearts may be re-
vealed.
Hymn for Easter.
O filii et filise. Praise by mortals now be
given,
Rex coelestis, Rex gloriae, On this day from death hath
risen
Morte surrexit hodie, Alle- The King of Glory, King of
luia. Heaven, Alleluia,
Et mane prima Sabbati, The mom of Sabbath scarce
did beam,
Digitized by Google
HYMNS FOB
Ad ostium monumenti
Acceeaenuat dfioipuli, Alle-
luia.
Et Maria Magdalene,
Et Jacobi, et Salome,
V enerunt corpus ungere,
Alleluia.
In albis sedetis angelus
Prsedixit mulieribus,
In Galilea est Dominus,
Allelolia.
Et Joannes apostolus
Cucurrit Petro ciths,
Monumento venit prills,
Alleluia.
Discipulis astantibus,
In medio stetit Christus,
Dicens, pax vobis omnibus,
Alleluia.
Ut intellexit Didymus
Quia surrexerat J esus,
Bemansit fere dubius, Al-
leluia.
Vide Tboma, vide latus,
Vide pedes, vide manus :
Noli esse incrodulus, Alle-
luia.
FESTIVALS. 533
When to his monument there
came
Disciples who ador’d his
name, Alleluia.
There Mary Magdalen
anxious stood.
And James , ana Salome the
good;
His body fain embalm they
would, Alleluia.
The angel sat in white all
rob’d,
And to the women he fore-
told :
In Galilee you’ll see the
Lord, Alleluia.
The message scarce did
greet his ear,
Swifter than Peter , John
drew near
To the Lord’s tomb, with
hope, with fear, Alleluia.
The disciples all assembled
were ;
Among them J epus did ap-
pear,
His peace he gave, remov’d
their fear, Alleluia.
Thomas believed not, when
’twas said
That Christ had risen from
the dead,
Until he saw the wounds
that bled, Alleluia.
My hands, my side, my
feet, O see !
Thomas , wounds that bled
for thee :
Benounce thine incredulity,
Alleluia.
2 Y 2
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534 HYMNS FOE
Quando Thomas vidit Chris-
tum
Pedes, manus, latus suum,
Dixit: Tu es Deus mens,
Alleluia.
Beati qui non viderunt,
Et firmiter crediderunt,
Vitam eetemam habebunt,
Alleluia.
In hoc festo sanctissimo
Sit laus et jubilatio :
Benedicamus Domino, Al-
leluia.
Ex quibus nos humillimas
Devotas atque debitas
Deo dicamus g rati as, Alle-
luia.
FESTIVALS.
When Thomas, Jesus had
survey’d,
And on his wounds his fin-
gers laid,
Thou art my Lord and God,
he said, Alleluia.
Blessed are they who have
not seen,
And yet, whose faith entire
hath been,
Them endless joy from pain
shall screen, Alleluia.
On this most solemn feast
let’s raise
Our hearts to God in hymns
of praise.
And bless the Lord in all his
ways, Alleluia.
Our grateful thanks to God
let’s give,
In humblest manner, whilst
we live,
For all the favours we
receive, Alleluia.
Hymns for
Veni Creator Spiritus,
Mentes tuorum visita,
Imple superna gratia,
Quae tu creasti, pectora.
Qui diceris Paraclitus,
Altissimi donum Dei ;
Whit -Sunday.
Creating Spirit, come
possess
Our souls, and with thy
presence bless :
And in our hearts, fram’d
by thy hand,
Let thy celestial grace com-
mand.
Thou who art call’d the
Paraclete ,
The Almighty Father’s gift
complete :
Digitized by Google
HYMNS FOR FESTIVALS,
535
^oxa virus, ignis, charitas,
JEt spiritalis unction.
Tu septiformis munere,
Digitus patemse dexter®,
Tu rite promiasum Patris,
Sermone ditans guttura.
Accende lumen sensibus :
Inftmde amorem cordibns :
Infirm a nostri corporis
Virtute firmans perpeti.
Hostem repellas longihs,
Pacemque donee protinhs,
Due to re sic te pravio
Yitemus omne noxium.
Per te sciamus da Patrem
Noscamus atque Filium:
Te utrmsqae Spiritum
Credamas omni tempore.
Deo Patri, sit gloria,
Et Filio, qui a mortals
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
Insceculorums&cula. Amen.
The living fountain, fire,
and love,
And sacred unction from
above.
Thou finger of the Father’s
hand,
Who dost a sevenfold grace
command :
Thou promis’d from the
Highest sent,
In various language eloquent
Purge with thy light our
earthly parts.
And with thy love inflame
our hearts :
Thus human weakness for-
tify
With everlasting constancy.
Far from us drive the
infernal foe,
And peace, the fruit of love,
bestow :
Thus having thee, our safest
guide,
Let not our feet to evil slide.
Let us by thee the Father
own,
And to us let thy Son be
known :
Let us believe in thee, who
dost
From both proceed the Holy
Ghost.
To God the Father, and
the Son,
Who rose from death, be
glory done :
This praise for ever let’s
repeat,
To (rod the holy Paraclete,
Amen.
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536
HYMNS FOR FESTIVALS,
V . Loquebantur variis
linguis Apostoli, Alleluia .
K. Magnalia Dei, Alle-
luia.
V. The Apostles spoke in
various tongues. Alleluia.
It. The wonders of God,
Alleluia.
THE PRATER.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Ghost, didst in-
struct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the direction
of the same Holy Spirit, we may relish what is right, and
always rejoice in his consolations : through J esus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Sequence far
Veni Saflcte Spirftus
£t emitte cselitus
Lacis turn radium.
Veni Pater pauperum :
Veni dator munerum:
Veni lumen cordium.
Consolator optime,
Dulcis hospes animse,
Dulce refrigerium.
In labore requies,
Jn sestu temperies,
In fletu solatium.
O lux beatissima,
Reple cordis intima
Tuorura fidelium.
Whit-Sunday.
Come, Holy Ghost, send
down those beams,
Which sweetly flow in silent
streams,
From thy bright throne
above.
O come thou Father of the
poor,
Thou bounteous source of
all our store,
Come fire our hearts with
love.
Come thou of comforters the
best,
Come thou the soul’s de-
licious guest,
The pilgrim’s sweet relief.
Thou art our rest in toil and
sweat,
Refreshment in excessive
heat
And solace in our grief.
O sacred light, shoot home
thy darts,
O pierce the centre of those
hearts,
Whose faith aspires to thee.
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HYMNS FOB
Sine tuo numine,
Nihil est in homine,
Nihil est innoxium.
Lava quod est sordidum,
Riga quod est aridum,
Sana quod est saucium.
Flecte quod est rigidum,
Fove quod est frigidum,
Rege quod est devium.
Pa tuis fidelibus,
In te confitentibus,
Sacrum septenarium.
Pa virtutis meritum,
Da salutis exitum,
Da perenne gaudium.
Amen.
FESTIVALS. 53T
Without thy Godhead no
thing can
Save any price or worth in
man :
Nothing can harmless be*
Lord, wash our sinful stains
away,
Water from heaven our
barren clay,
Our wounds and bruises
heal.
To thy sweet yoke our stiff
necks bow,
Warm with thy fire our
hearts of snow,
Our wand’ring feet repel.
O grant thy faithful, dearest
Lord,
Whose only hope is thy sure
word,
The seven gifts of thy
spirit.
Grant us in life to obey thy
grace,
Grant us in death to see thy
face,
And endless joys inherit,
Amen.
THE PRAYER.
O God, to whom every heart lies open, every will
speaks its desire, and from whom no secret is concealed;
purify the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of the
Holy Ghost, in order that we may perfectly love thee, and
worthily praise thee : through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy
Son, who with thee and the same Holy Ghost liveth, &c.
Amen.
Digitized by Google
538 HYMNS FOB FBSTIVALS.
Pange lingua gloriosi
Corporis mysterium,
Sanguinisque pretiosi
Quem in mundi pretium,
Fructus ventris generosi,
Bex effudit gentium.
Nobis datis, nobus natus,
Ex Intacta virgine ;
Et in mundo conyersatus
Sparso verbi semine,
Sui notas incolatus
Miro clausit Ordine !
Sing. O my tongue, adore
ana praise
The depth of God’s mysteri-
ous ways :
HowChrist,the world’s great
King, bestow’d
His flesn conceal’d in human
food,
And left mankind the blood
that paid
The ransom for the souls he
made.
Given from above, and born
for man,
From virgin chaste his life
began:
He liv’d on earth, and
preached to sow
The seeds of heavenly love
below;
Then seal’d his mission from
above
With strange effects of power
and love!
In supreme nocte ccenee,
Becumbens cum fratribus,
Observata lege plene
Cibis in legalibus,
Cibum turbffi duodenae
Se dat suis m ambus.
’Twas on that ev’ning when
the last
And most mysterious sup-
per past;
When Christ with his dis-
ciples sat,
To dose the law with legal
meat;
Then to the twelve himself
bestow’d
With his own hands to be
their food*
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HYMNS FOB
Verbum caro, panem ve-
rum,
Yerbo camem efficit:
Fitque sanguis Christi me-
rum,
Et si sensus deficit,
Ad firmandum cor sincerum
Sola fides sufficit.
Tantum ergo sacramentum
Veneremur cemui ;
Et antiquum documentum,
Novo cedat ritui,
Prastet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.
Genitori, Genitoque,
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, yirtus, quo-
que,
Sit et benedictio :
Procederlti ab utroque,
Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
V. Panem de ccelo pras-
titisti eis. Alleluia .
R. Omne delectamentum
in se habentum. Alleluia,
FESTIVALS, 539
The Word made flesh for
love of man,
His word turns bread to flesh
again,
And wine to blood, unseen
by sense,
By virtue of omnipotence :
And here the faithful rest
secure,
Whilst God can vouch and
faith insure.
To this mysterious table
now,
Our knees, our hearts, and
sense we bow:
Let ancient rites resign their
place
To nobler elements of grace:
And faith for all defects
supply,
Whilst sense is lost in mys-
tery.
To God the Father, born of
none.
To Christ his co-etemal Son,
And Holy Ghost, whose
equal rays,
From both proceed, be equal
praise :
One honour, jubilee, and
fame,
For ever bless his glorious
name. Amen.
Y. Thou hast given them
bread from heaven. Alleluia .
R. Abounding with what-
ever is delicious. Alleluia,
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540
HYMNS FOR FESTIVALS,
THE PRAYER.
Deus, qui nobis sub Sa-
cramento mirabili passionis
tu© memo ri am reliquisti ;
tribue, qussumus, ita nos
corporis et sanguinis tui
sacra mysteria venerari, ut
redemptionis tu© fructum
in nobis jugiter sentiamus.
Qui vivis, &c.
O God, who in this won-
derful sacrament hast left us
a memorial of thy passion :
grant us so to reverence the
sacred mysteries of thy body
and blood, that our souls
may be always sensible of
the fruit of thy redemption.
Who livest, &c.
Hymn at the Elevation .
O salutaris hostia,
Qus cceli pandis ostium ;
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino,
Sit sempitema gloria :
Qui vitam sine termino,
Nobis donet in patria.
O saying host, that hea-
ven’s gate,
Laidst open at so dear a
rate;
Intestine wars invade our
breast ;
Be thou our strength, sup-
port, and rest.
To God the Father, and the
Son,
And Holy Spirit, three in
one,
Be endless praise : may He
above.
With life eternal crown our
love.
FINIS.
V
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